One day a disc jockey at a fifth-rate rock station in a small market Ontario city tried to find a recording of O Canada to play on the air. But the only copy in the music library was a brass band rendition which would make the local Salvation Army brigade cringe. So the DJ set out on a personal quest to find a cool version of the national anthem. There wasn’t one.
So started Ross Carlin’s personal odyssey there in the radio station in the old house on Broadway Avenue in Orangeville. Why don’t we have a contemporary recording of this thing, he asked everyone? Why can’t Canadians do to O Canada what Jimi Hendrix did to the Star Spangled Banner? How come nobody’s ever asked Canadian rock icons to pile into a studio and make a gang recording, a la We are the World?
It’s a lengthy story, this one. But it led to me. I was a nearby MP at the time, just a year away from having the voters promote me to the high office of private citizen. Carlin included me on a long list of politicians he sent a pleading letter to. Apparently I was the only guy to respond. And Carlin infected me.
As a consequence, I spent a good chunk of the winter of 1991 helping this scruffy rocker find money to record a modern version of the song, with the dream of pressing enough CDs to send one to every school in Canada. At the time, in the lead-up to the 125th anniversary of Confederation, the government had established and financed a whole secretariat to fete the event. They were doling out buckets of cash to people with good ideas for the country. And I thought, what could be more patriotic than an inspirational, high-octane version of the old Calixa Lavallee tune?
So, I prepared a big presentation for the members of the 125 committee, and lobbied the minister in charge, Joe Clark. One frosty day I presented it all to the august body in a private meeting room in a Quebec hotel. By then the idea had evolved a bit: Get the country’s stars to do a bilingual O Canada version arranged by David Foster and recorded in a session that could be turned into a rock video; and have a new symphonic version commissioned which would be recorded by the TSO and used as the soundtrack for the penultimate short film on the beauties of this land.
That is when I had the shock of my political life.
The government, the minister and the Canada 125 committee turned me down flat. The reason: O Canada was considered to be a political song. Joe Clark confided in me that there were grave concerns it would be viewed in Quebec as an Ottawa-funded attempt to shove patriotism down their throats. The trouble, apparently, was with the word “Canada.â€
I was staggered and betrayed. I could not believe my own government was trying to sanitize my country, pandering to a relative handful of Quebec separatists who deserved to have their asses handed to them. So, quietly, I resolved that we would not fail.
Over the next few months I visited a lot of corporate boardrooms. Ultimately, I was able to hand Ross Carlin $1 million, thanks to the ballsy CEOs of companies like Canada Post, Ford Canada, Maclean Hunter, CN and Coca-Cola. We went into Manta Sound in Toronto, and let artists like Luba, Randy Bachman, Gino Vanelli, along with the top country singers and the cast of Cats, rip into the anthem. We shot tape, and made a rock video. We pressed tens of thousands of CDs and sent them to all the schools. We commissioned an unbelievable symphonic version, written by leading Canadian composer Eric Robertson. We made it into a beautiful film and sent it to all the TV stations for their use. Carlin turned into an instant little star and became, at least for a few months, Captain Canada.
Then CTV came and made an hour-long television documentary, With Glowing Hearts, and aired it on the network. And then the government relented. Sort of.
Since it was the 125th anniversary, the Queen came to Canada. There was a big show on Parliament Hill, and Joe Clark suggested our rockers come to Ottawa and perform it at the end of the gala. So I approached CBC, which was organizing the thing, and fought with those guys for three months. Finally they, too, relented. And on Canada Day, 1992, with the Queen a few feet away, with Randy Bachman bashing away on my Fender Strat on stage before a crowd of more than two hundred thousand people, with Dorothy and I in the wings, it happened.
And if you stay up really, really, really late some night and see a funky version of O Canada on the tube when the TV station is turning the lights out, well, now you know the story.
It was the anthem that would not go silent.
To view an MPtv video on the preparations for this year’s 140th anniversary bash on Parliament Hill, click here.
85 comments ↓
“The reasonable man adapts to his environment. The unreasonable man demands that his environment adapt to him. Therefore, all human progress depends upon the unreasonable man.” – George Bernard Shaw.
Garth, you are a most unreasonable man. I tip my hat to you, and I plan to tip a whiskey in your honour (NOTE THE SPELLING, PEOPLE!)this weekend.
HAPPY CANADA DAY, CANADA! This includes you Quebecois as well.
My name is Alex Thomas. Party on, dudes!
Garth:
Your story is amazing. It doesn’t unfortunately surprise me. In a country where a good number of citzens and 98% of the media thinks is fair to confiscate $35 billion in people’s wealth, why should we be surprised when a remake of O Canada is seen as a politically bad idea.
You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. No wonder people see the Federal government, Provicial governments and politicians in general as untrustworthy and useless people.
And just so we don’t have the CONservative trolls respond with 8 thousand usless messages, this unfortuate opinion is irrespective of political stripe.
Liars and cheats abound in every party. I mean look at Emerson. He was voted in as a die hard Liberal until Harper showed him the power and cash. Disgusting.
We citzens are the only one left who can stand up for Canada. The 99% of independent media is gone. The politicians are 99% liars and cheats.
Who’s left but us citizens? O Canada indeed.
Happy Canada Day one and all, let’s hope all who suffer have a better year.
By David Bakody on 06.30.07 6:32 am in Without a Whimper
Yes, David, may all of us have a Happy Canada Day.
I was thinking this morning as I watched my little Chipmunk friend scurry about the patio, how peaceful the morning is.
Then I got thinking about our flag, the Maple Leaf, and how similar, yet different it is than the flag of my country of birth, the U.S.A..
The Maple Leaf flag is red and white; the U.S. flag red, white and blue with stars denoting the number of States.
The Maple Leaf flag put a leaf, the symbol of hope and life at its centre, and the leaf has no linear boundaries, it is merely an outlined shape, which wanders in and out of the red background. It is surrounded by the red, a part of it, yet distinct in its presence.
The U.S. (Note I do not call the U.S. ‘America’ because it is not America. America is our continent. The U.S.A. is a political entity that is situated in the continent of North America. There is also Central, and South America) flag is made up of definitive boundaries of red and white stripes. They do not merge together, but delineate separation.
Then reading this morning’s Star there is an interesting article When identity is mix-and-match and coupling that with Garth’s discertation on ‘O’Canada’ several thoughts came through my spirit.
O’Canada is a magnificiently beautiful composition. I sing it regularly and take great pride in doing so. The U.S. National Anthem, speaks not of peace, and strength, but of war and patriotism. a patriotism that has crossed to fascism on too many occassions IMHO.
We, and I, and everyone here is Canadian, even the Quebec Separatists. We have our differences, but that can be a strength because we can learn from each other. The most dangerous scenario is where people stop thinking, asking questions, and march in lock step.
An old military technique is ‘When crossing a bridge the troops shall not march in step, but in random.’ The reason being that marching in lock step produces an oscillating force, and it can, and does, destroy the bridge by harmonic vibrations, resulting in the loss of all passing.
In the U.S. people describe themselves as XXX-American. here we do not use XXX-Canadian…just Canadian. The U.S. likes to claim there is an ‘American way of life’, yet when the question is asked to define it, no one can answer. I used to say being an ‘American’ means understanding the principles in the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, but alas, few even know what those documents say, including the Members of Congress.
Here in Canada we hear some attempt to place a label on what being a ‘Canadian’ means, another attempt at creating a dividing line between peoples. I hope we never do such a thing. I prefer to think that we are all merely Village People…Big village, lots of different people, but working together in common for everyone’s benefit. In short, as the saying goes ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, so does it ‘take a village to make a society.’
I firmly believe the FNP has a great deal to teach the others, as do the Sihks, Muslims, Buddists, Hindus, atheists, and all others from other lands. We all came here for a reason…to live a better life. We are a living United Nations.
The Sweat Lodge is one of most beneficial concepts ever devised by mankind. It brings people together in mutual suffering that equalizes them into seeing each other. It is probably well more than 10,000 years old. The ancient Druids used it as well.
The Druids had another great concept…that the land belongs to everyone, and no one owns it but the Creator. How different would things be had we not adopted the feudal landowner concept of Europe? Everyone would have land, a place to live their life, and when they passed to the next journey, the land remains and passes on to the next person in need.
At the end of the day let us remember that Canada comes from Kanata, which means village. May our village prosper in peace and harmony.
Bill Muskoka – well put, bravo!
It’s really hard for me this year to feel Canadian and I was born here and my ancesters to back to the early pioneer settlers.
NL, Alberta, Quebec and Cape Breton want to leave us – yup, Harper you’ve done a helluva job uniting Canada.
Good on ya, Garth. Happy Canada Day to you and all the crew. With all the bitching and moaning we do, this is still an incredible country with great reserves of strength and goodwill and just enough squeaky wheels to keep us from getting complacent.
It’s so “un-Canadian” to be immodest – but what the hell – lets do it today anyway.
Cheers,
Lawrence
I like some national anthems like the current Russian one, the Dutch anthem, the English one (as a melody; I don’t care for the words). I don’t particularly like the Canadian one, but it’s the one we have had for quite some time and I respect it as I respect a sacred hymn in a church service. I sing it with pride, and if I hear it played/sung when I am abroad (like at the Olympics) I feel proud to call myself a Canadian. I let people know, “He, that’s us, that’s Canada, that’s me!”
But when, for instance, I hear the American national anthem sung/warbled by some so-called big-shot rock star or some would-be popular singer/warbler, all in the name of a ”
contemporay version” of the anthem, of making it “relevant” to contemporary “musical” tastes, I cringe. I would be dead-set against copying the popular (?) American way of singing our national anthem. Maybe, I am using an extreme example to make a point. Yes, I have heard modern versions of our anthem that were very good musically, versions that were created by respected and talented musicians, real musicians in other words. But let’s not go the “American way”. And lest I be accused of being “anti-American”, I use the example of the American anthem as I hear it sung at sport events (the Olympics excluded),etc., because I don’t have any other example to offer.
This is my personal vision and I realize, “De gustibus non disputantem”.
Please watch this documentary. It is probably the most important documentary of our time. This and global warming will be immensely important for my generation. It talks about the SPP and how our civil liberties are slowly being eroded by multinational interests, as well as talking about how the war on terror is a facade for something more threatening.
So please watch, it is 2 hours long so when you find the time watch it and pass it along to everyone you know.
Also, the first 35 minutes is about Christianity, so if you’re a die-hard Christian feel free to skip the first part.
http://zeitgeistmovie.com/
Thanks
Actually, I think “The Maple Leaf Forever” would have been a better anthom.
Happy Canada Day, fellow Canucks.
No matter what Harper does to pull our nation down, I remain proud of being Canadian.
My daughter is in Australia this Canada Day, and her aunt sent her all kinds of flags, pins, tattoos and hats so she can celebrate with her new friends.
When she lived in Europe and took me to Italy, the tourguide at the Colisseum befriended us — when he was told we were Canadians and not Americans. When the tour ended, he gave everyone permission to explore the incredible historical site independently for up to 20 minutes, then catching up with Lisa and me, said, “Watch the Americans; they have no idea of the significance of this place; they will not stay: they will all flock outside and buy cheap souvenirs.” Which they promptly did, as though on cue. We were the only non-Americans on that tour, and the only two who stayed to explore.
My purpose here isn’t to appear as just another smug and superior Canadian putting down Americans, but rather to celebrate our international reputation as caring and intelligent people.
Happy Canada Day to Canadians wherever you hang your hats this weekend.
is this the symphonic one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVZnhaKcjME
where’s the link to the rock one?
James: I find your post to be off-topic, but I can’t resist reacting to it. I am what you call a “die-hard” Christian. Yet, I am not afraid of those first 35 minutes. I am OK with religion being critisised, being questioned, being accused of terrible things, all in the name of some version of God. Not all Christians should be painted as simpletons, as some unintelligent dopes who allowed themselves to be brainwashed for whatever reason. I follow the admonition of Saint Paul: “Examine everything and keep what is good”. And there is lots of good about religion.
And now back to the topic at hand!
A light-hearted look at Canadian Inventions I wrote from a list taken from the CBC Archive site. Enjoy!
Canadian Inventions by Rose Salsman
Our most famous inventor was Alexander Graham Bell
Just think what he created when you reach for your cell.
Another communicator thought up the handy Walkie-Talkie
I imagine at first it was squeaky and squawky.
Not to be outdone, along came Mr. Urry
With his alkaline Long-Lasting Battery he devised in a hurry.
Our history is filled with communications jostling,
Java Programming Language was invented by J Arthur Gosling.
The Blackberry is a recent Lazaridis invention
You’ll find them by the score at every major convention.
Radio Voice Transmission which has nearly replaced the pen
Was invented by a Canuck. named Reg Fessenden.
Could the Canadarm be considered in the communication race?
Just imagine the kilometres it has travelled in space
With communications also we must include tune
The Electronic Music Synthesizer could make dancers swoon
Key Frame Animation by Burtnyk and Wein
Kept Disney in business through sun, snow and rain.
Our households were modernized by Canadian concern
First was the Electric Oven by Thomas Ahearn
The Wee Vac; paint roller; the light bulb and more
The Robertson Screw you can buy at the store.
We invented the Caulking Gun to keep the cold out
And the Snow blower we use to throw the white stuff about.
We invented Plexiglas and Combines that move on their own
So farmers can hop up and sit on their throne.
Out on the ocean two sounds will be borne
Of the Marine Screw Propeller and the Steam Fog Horn
In medicine our inventions are more than a few
The electric wheelchair and Cobalt-60 bomb to name only two.
There’s the CPR Mannequin dummy to pound on her chest
And Insulin injections by Banting and Best.
The pacemaker, Electronic Microscope are two more we can add
Without Canadian inventions our world could be sad.
Miscellanea I’ll throw in at no extra cost
Separable Baggage Checks so you suitcase won’t be lost.
Green Plastic Garbage bags we can’t do without
For moving and storing and throwing things out.
The Automatic Lubricating Cup, I haven’t a clue
It might be something useful, I’ll leave that to you.
The G-Suit you’ll wonder if I’m playing with pranks
But no, it was invented by Wilbur Rounding Franks.
Many games that we play and all countries take part
Began their long journey in a Canadian heart.
Our First Nations People have a sports history too
They played at Lacrosse and raced Birch bark canoe.
Hockey, of course began on a pond
Now countries that play create a strong bond.
There’s five pin bowling, and Basketball too
Our winter’s not complete without the noisy SkiDoo
Instant replay has been adopted all over the place
Jacques Plante’s Goalie Mask has saved many a face.
Food’s not a big thing that caught Canadian’s attention
But Pablum and Instant mashed potatoes are two I could mention.
The Bloody Caesar’s a drink that could change your intentions
And Poutine could easily change your dimensions.
And last but not least, the most important of all
The Zipper – without which our pants would all take a fall.
The Automatic Lubricating Cup, I haven’t a clue. It might be something useful, I’ll leave that to you.
By Rose Salsman on 06.30.07 12:04 pm
Rose that little invention made long train travel, and all other machinery, including farm tractors, far less difficult to maintain.
Before its appearance locomotives (steam) had to be lubricated at every opportunity, and used a brass cup filled with fiberous waste. They tended to run dry pretty soon. The AOC provided an adjustable orifice which metered the flow of oil.
The same was a major part of almost all machinery from printing presses to hay bailers.
It was invented by a fellow named Elijah McCoy, and hence the term The REAL MCCoy!.
Happy Canada Day!
Oh, yes, and McCoy was the son Black immigrant American parents, who came north on the Underground Railway to find freedom.
MJ,
When you say,
“No matter what Harper does to pull our nation down, I remain proud of being Canadian.”
I hate to give you the bad news MJ. When the liberals lost the last election, national pride went up instantly.
It will continue to do so as long as our polititians are not stealing our money and paying friends money for little or no work.
This is the liberal way of doing things.
I’m happy it’s over.
Why are you so adamant about this Bill? You know the money isn’t going to them. You know the right services aren’t making it to them. You know that one size does not fit all right across the country. So why so stubborn?
Geo
By Georgine on 06.29.07 11:46 pm
Way off topic as per usual .What a dunderhead .
By Rose Salsman on 06.30.07 12:04 pm
Rose, that was great. But they missed an important one. The WonderBra, developed in Canada in 1939.
The brand was developed in Canada and Moses “Moe” Nadler, founder and majority owner of the Canadian Lady Corset Company, licensed the trademark for the Canadian market in 1939.
By the 1960s the Canadian Lady brand had become known in Canada as “Wonderbra, the company.” In 1961 the company introduced the Model 1300 plunge push-up bra. This bra became one of the best-selling Canadian styles and is virtually identical to today’s Wonderbra…. h/t wikipedia
Another fine Canadian innovation.
Happy Birthday Canada!!
You are wrong Miltonman.
Any positive feelings Canadians attained when Harper was elected came from his election promises.
Promises not to tax Income Trusts.
Promises of open and accountable government.
Solemn promises that he broke and continues to break without the slightest consideration for the massive amount of damage that this disgraceful Harper regime is doing to Canada.
No matter what Harper and his cowardly minions do to destroy Canada, Canadians will remain proud of their country.
But they will continue to view Harpers dictatorship as the disgrace that it is.
And that sir, is an undeniable fact.
Well if anyone hasn’t heard O Canada sung like O Christmas tree it is quite a treasure. Remember this will be a minute and a half out of your life that you will not get back but it can be found here. http://youtube.com/watch?v=KpXzASiXX8U Enjoy
The Plan to Disappear Canada
‘Deep integration’ comes out of shadows
by Murray Dobbin
Global Research, June 30, 2007
TheTyee.ca – 2007-06-08
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If the machinations going on in this country regarding so-called “deep integration” were instead a communist conspiracy to take over the country (you will, of course, have to try hard to imagine this) the news media would be blaring the story.
Pundits would pontificate, editorialists would erupt, security forces would be unleashed.
Instead, a virtual conspiracy to make the country disappear through assimilation into the U.S. gets barely a mention.
But news of the scheme — formally called the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) — is finally breaking out of the secret chambers of the ruling elite and the federal government. This is both good news and bad. It’s good that ordinary citizens are finally getting a glimpse of the betrayal of their country. The news is bad because it reflects just how much of this scheme is already being implemented.
Given the meetings of CEOs and politicians to advance the scheme politically, as well as all that must go into its actual implementation, there is simply too much activity to keep secret.
Ten dots to connect
Here are 10 developments in the plan to disappear Canada.
1) Pesticides ‘harmonized.’ The most thoroughly reported story (though even this did not go much beyond the CanWest chain) was the revelation that Canada was about to “harmonize” its regulations, setting limits for pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables. In 40 per cent of the cases, the U.S. allows for higher levels. Richard Aucoin, chief registrar of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which sets Canada’s pesticide levels, said that Canada’s higher levels were a “trade irritant.”
The downgrading of health protection had been a NAFTA initiative, but is being “fast-tracked” as part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Some 300 regulatory regimes are currently going through the same process.
2) Tory tirade. The next story that broke through the wall of media silence reported on the paranoid reaction of the Harper Conservatives to any criticism of the SPP. The occasion was hearings of the Commons International Trade Committee into the SPP, forced by the NDP.
Gordon Laxer, head of Alberta’s Parkland Institute, was testifying on the energy implications of the SPP, warning that eastern Canada could end up “freezing in the dark.” He had barely started when the chair of the committee, Conservative MP Leon Benoit, demanded that Laxer halt his “irrelevant” testimony. The Committee members overruled Benoit — who promptly (and illegally) adjourned the meeting and stomped out. The NDP and Liberal members nonetheless continued without him.
3) Council of corporate power. The SPP initiative began in earnest back in 2002 with the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (formerly the BCNI), the most powerful corporate body in the country. It continues it leadership role, but does not promote the scheme just in its own name. It instead has helped create several supportive bodies that now help drive the agenda. Included in these are the North American Competitive Council (NACC), which includes CEOs of the largest North American corporations, and which institutionalizes the exclusively corporate nature of the agreement. The NACC is the only advisory group to the three NAFTA/SPP governments.
4) Secretive summit. The NACC at least is public. But much of what happens in building the elite consensus for deep integration is done in absolute secrecy or very privately, away from the prying eyes of the media. The most secretive of these was held last year from Sept. 12 to 14, in Banff Springs. As The Tyee reported, the gathering was sponsored by something called the North American Forum* and it was attended by some of the most powerful members of the North American ruling elite.
Attendees, according to a leaked list that could not be confirmed, included Donald Rumsfeld, George Schultz (former U.S. Secretary of State), General Rick Hillier, Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor and Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day. The media was not informed of the meeting and it was first revealed by the weekly Banff Crag & Canyon.
Stockwell Day refused to even confirm he was there, but said that even if he was, it was a “private” meeting that he would not comment on. There is no better indication that these meetings, and the SPP itself, constitute a parallel governing structure — unaccountable to any democratic institution or the public.
5) ‘No fly’ coordination. Canada will have its own “no-fly” list just like our U.S. “partner.”
As the Council of Canadians pointed out: “The no-fly list is very much a Security and Prosperity Partnership initiative. ‘The SPP Report to Leaders, August 2006′ outlines 105 SPP initiatives. Initiative #93 states, ‘Develop, test, evaluate and implement a plan to establish comparable aviation passenger screening, and the screening of baggage and air cargo (for North America).’”
Canada’s privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has raised a number of concerns about the plan including the fact that the list will be shared with the U.S., that “false positives” are a virtual certainty, and that there is no evidence put forward by the government that the list will improve airline security.
6) Bye, bye Canadian dollar? David Dodge, the head of the Bank of Canada, told a Chicago audience that a single currency for North America “is possible.” That would see a big chunk of Canadian sovereignty and the ability to guide the economy through monetary policy go out the window. It’s not the first time Dodge has mused about abandoning the Canadian dollar – or deep integration.
7) Water and oil giveaways. The deep integrationists clearly see Canadian water as a North American resource, not a Canadian resource. At yet another very private meeting, held in Calgary on April 27th under the auspices of yet another forum, it was made clear that water is on the table for negotiation.
Discussion of bulk “water transfers” and diversions took place at a Calgary meeting of the North American Future 2025 Project (partly funded by the U.S. government). The meeting based its deliberations on the false notion that Canada has 20 per cent of the world’s fresh water. Actual available supply amounts to only around six per cent — about the same as has the U.S.
The water (and environment) meeting was preceded by another on April 26th talking about “North American” energy. The beneficiary of these discussions is pretty clear when you realize Canada has no national energy policy. We are the only energy exporting country in the world without a one.
Gordon Laxer told the Parliamentary committee: “The National Energy Board wrote me on April 12: ‘Unfortunately, the NEB has not undertaken any studies on security of supply.’” He was also told by the NEB that Canada does not maintain a 90 day energy reserve as other developed nations do. As Laxer points out, “Canada may be a net exporter, but it still imports 40 per cent of its oil — 850,000 barrels per day — to meet 90 per cent of Atlantic Canada’s and Quebec’s needs, and 40 per cent of Ontario’s.”
Canada exports 63 per cent of its oil production and 56 per cent of its natural gas, percentages that can never decrease under NAFTA.
NAFTA Superhighway. State governments in the U.S. are becoming increasingly alarmed at the prospects of deep integration. Earlier this year, Idaho became the first state to pass a legislative resolution directing the U.S. Congress to drop out of the SPP, which is referred to as the North American Union amongst U.S. opponents. Thirteen states in addition to Idaho are calling on Congress to abandon the SPP: Georgia, Arizona, Missouri, Illinois, Oregon, Montana, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Virginia.
Part of the opposition is focused on plans for a so-called NAFTA Superhighway: actually a corridor several hundred metres wide including rail lines, freeways and pipelines from Mexico to the Canadian border. There is a growing grass roots movement against the SPP in the U.S., but led by the right over the issue of compromising American sovereignty.
9) Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA). While U.S. states, concerned about state rights under an unaccountable “North American Union,” are organizing against the scheme, Canadian provinces are either blithely unaware or knowingly complicit in the deal. More Canadians may be aware of TILMA — the investors’ rights agreement between B.C. and Albert — than they are about the SPP, but in reality they are one and the same.
TILMA is major piece of the deep integration, deregulation imperative and fits hand in glove with the SPP. There is a similar, though more informal, process evolving in the Atlantic provinces, called “Atlantica.” And B.C. is now pushing the so-called Gateway Initiative, a kind of regional superhighway project that will see huge and environmentally disastrous expansion of ports, highways and pipelines to further supply the U.S.’s insatiable demand for resources and cheap Asian goods.
10) The next SPP summit. The third leaders summit on the SPP will take place this August 21-22nd in Montebello, Quebec, not far from Ottawa. By the time it does many more Canadian will be aware of it.
Part of the reason that news of the SPP/deep integration issue is finally seeing the light of day is that opposition is growing and groups fighting the SPP are having an impact. The Council of Canadians, the CLC and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives held an SPP teach-in in Ottawa last month and many civil society groups are now taking deep integration to their members. Demonstrations are planned for the summit. The NDP continues to press the government on SPP secrecy and the Green Party’s Elizabeth May has said deep integration will be a focus of the party’s election platform.
It is hard to think of any other issue in modern Canadian history, especially one that will literally determine whether the country survives or not, that has taken so long to get public attention. I first wrote about it September, 2002.
By the time the SPP summit has come and gone and the fall political season begins, deep integration, the most treacherous plan for the country yet devised by Bay Street, will be increasingly exposed.
And by the next election, we could see a repeat of the great “free trade” election of 1988. This time we have to win.
*Correction note: At 12:20 p.m. on June 4, we corrected the name of the forum.
Next time use a link! Or I’ll charge you rent. — Garth
It will continue to do so as long as our polititians are not stealing our money and paying friends money for little or no work.
This is the liberal way of doing things.
I’m happy it’s over.
By Miltonman on 06.30.07 2:01 pm
=========
Boy you seem to be in real strong denial of the goings on the past few weeks. Harper and his crew’s shenanigans have been really pulling them down the tubes. I can’t wait for the next all party poll to see just how far down the Conservatives have fallen over the last month.
Randy,
Angus Reid just did a poll yeaterday.
The question was,
Will you vote for Harper on the next election?
Yes 57%
No 43%
I hope this helps you,,,,Randy.
Happy Canada Day everyone! And not politics today please – let us all enjoy all that we have in this free and strong country – faults and all. I would not live anywhere else in the world. Our Canada Day is especially touching this year – son left Afghanistan this morning. He won’t make it home in time for the fireworks, but the fireworks have already gone off in my heart. O Canada indeed!
Thank you for your son’s service. We are indebted to him. — Garth
Yes we are Garth – we are all indebted to him and to each and every member of our fine Canadian Forces – like all who have gone before him – for the last year his buddies have been his family away from home and we treasure each and every one of them. Thank you.
Randy,
Angus Reid just did a poll yeaterday.
The question was,
Will you vote for Harper on the next election?
Yes 57%
No 43%
I hope this helps you,,,,Randy.
By Miltonman on 06.30.07 6:12 pm
Just a note there Miltonman. That poll was not done yesterday, it has been up for months. It was part of a Google ad put forth by angus reid. The voting can be done multiple times, and it isn’t restricted to Canadian citizens.
In that poll….I wouldn’t put to much credit.
By Keith Phibbs on 06.30.07 5:26 pm
Thanks, Murray Dobbin is a great writer. He has also been following the BCRail trial in Vancouver. Which is slowly uncovering the (possible and very likely) criminality of the Prov. libs, Fed. Libs, RCMP and others. It’s very tangled. But it gets little coverage. CanWest you know.
Geo
Yay! K Murphy!
Why are you so adamant about this Bill? You know the money isn’t going to them. You know the right services aren’t making it to them. You know that one size does not fit all right across the country. So why so stubborn?
Geo
By Georgine on 06.29.07 11:46 pm
Way off topic as per usual .What a dunderhead .
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.30.07 3:19 pm
Garth :
Someone is playing games with board members names .
I never said that to Geo . Not would I ever .Far too much respect for her to ever day that .
I did say it but not to Geo .
Please investigate before there is BIG trouble on this Blog .
I smell Observer/Shadow/Purist all over this .
Thanks Helfarch:) I was a bit taken aback but I figured I’d sit tight a bit and wait. Didn’t think you’d come down on me for an oops, if it was.
Geo
Randy,
Angus Reid just did a poll yeaterday.
The question was,
Will you vote for Harper on the next election?
Yes 57%
No 43%
I hope this helps you,,,,Randy.
By Miltonman on 06.30.07 6:12 pm
———————-
I don’t care what that poll said. I am not interested in Harper vs Dion or vice versa. I am only interested in all Party polls. Cons, Libs, NDP, BLOQ & GREEN vote. Not individual personalities Milton.
Canada didn’t vote Harper in as a minority Government they voted in the Conservative Government. Harper was not elected by Canadians he was elected by his constituents in Calgary. He is Prime Minister only because the Party elected him as their leader. Got that my man? If there were to be a snap election and the Libs won a minority then it would be a very low in the poll’s Dion as Prime Minister and you would be crying that you didn’t elect him and he is not your Prime Minister, right?
No way Geo :
My respect for you is ultimate . I would never pull you up for anything you said or did,ever .
I smell the Impure one all over this .
From Bill congratulating him to the cut and paste job of my words .
Now I gotta apologize to Billy when he gets back .
Oh,well .
Blah blah blah i’m Garth i’m wonderful blah blah blah i’m a big-headed egotistical blowhard – BINGO!
Now, where can I get a copy of all of this? I’d love to have a copy of O Canada, especially various renditions of it. I have the Great Big Sea version, but it doesn’t have the lyrics, which is disappointing, and I’m not quite happy with their riff. :\
And I’d really like to see ‘With Glowing Hearts’ now.
Regardless of the beat, the riffs, whatever the genre they play it in, I wish we could change the words from “all thy sons” to “all of us”. Then, it would truly be my anthem and that of my daughter, my grand-daughter, my nieces, and my female friends too. And yet, no matter how it is played and no matter that part of the lyrics are from another age, it stirs my heart and usually brings tears as it will later this morning when we sing it at church. We are so fortunate, so blessed and, sometimes, just too bloody stupid to remember that.
With a bomb here and a blast there, this convention picked a good time to spread the creed “Love for all, Hatred for none”. Oh Canada I say.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2007/01/c3071.html
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
Happy Birthday Canada.
Another great day.
Imagine that, another day that we do not have to worry about our own government stealing money out of our back pockets.
Another great day.
PS – Garth, I hope you are working very hard today for all of us in Halton.
Randy answers Miltonman -
“I don’t care what that poll said. I am not interested in Harper vs Dion or vice versa.”
Sure Rand, whatever you say,,
You would be singing a different tune if that poll reflected anything positive about Dion.
Which it does NOT.
Right Rand ???
You would be singing a different tune if that poll reflected anything positive about Dion.
Which it does NOT.
Right Rand ???
By Haltonjohn on 07.01.07 9:50 am
———————
John, I am not a Liberal, and have never ever in my life voted for Liberal. Bill Blaikie has been my member of Parliament for almost 30 yrs now so you know how I have been voting all those years. That been said, I have been terribly disappointed with the NDP the past couple of elections as well and have been looking elsewhere to park my vote. I have also let Mr. Blaikie know my opinions.
Halton Jon:
This poll is bogus. Anybody anywhere in the world can vote as many times as they wish. Also, Angus Reid puts the following disclaimer on their website:
“Please note that these survey results are of website visitors who voluntarily take the survey. These results are not necessarily representative of the larger population”
You can say that again!
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.30.07 10:26 pm
Well, perhaps the real HM has come back. Whatever was going on yesterday was strange to say the least. But i know the Death Star trolls are down to the last of the bottom of the Kool-Aide barrel, and man oh man, that has got to be some really potent stuff. We all know they are very challenged when it comes to mixing things.
A beautiful sunny Canada Day here in the Muskoka. Tens of thousands of Citiots have arrived, and we can tell because they think they are driving in the GTA where rudeness, aggressiveness, and basic stupidity is the norm.
At least the supermarkets really stockup on long weekends, so we can have something to eat too, after all the cottagers come and empty the shelves.
But we welcome them and like any tourist area, are pleased to accept their money into our economy. So, we are considering a nice new bumper sticker, eh ‘Welcome to the Muskoka…Now GO HOME!’ LOL
Tonight there will be major fireworks displays. Early this evening the BBQ’s will be turning out hearty meals.
A great day to celebrate.
One thing about polls is they are great for stirring up the sh–! Beyond that, they are worthless as a reality cheque.
Happy Canada Day Everyone!
Oh Canada…look at Australia
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22001126-601,00.html
CANADA DAY FUNDING
Once again , one Province being bought with our tax dollars!
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=0a1b4455-e829-4356-9b8c-f399480e84cd&k=50825&p=1
HAPPY CANADA DAY everyone from a very proud CANADIAN who came to this GREAT COUNTRY as a 10 year old way back in 1959.It was well worth to spend $20 to become a citizen of this fantastic federation.Today is for showing the red and white-those are the colours of our flag.the blue disappeared in 1965.BONNE FETE CANADA.
J Townley says –
“Any positive feelings Canadians attained when Harper was elected came from his election promises.”
Sorry Jay, but the mass of positive feelings was because the liberal thieves were put out of office AND because Harper got elected.
Liberal lies, corruption, and theft are the halmark of Liberals in power.
The high level of liberal incompetence and pompus, offensive behaviour will likely never be matched by any Conservative government.
You need more education Jay.
Smarten up.
Stop being so gullible, so naive and so simple Jay. It’s so liberal.
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Canada Day. No politics for me today.
Cheers!
Randy –
Oh, I’m sorry. I did not know you voted NDP for the past 30 years.
Wow,
If there is anything I can do to help you with your many problems, then please, let me know.
You need lots of rest.
Here is a quite poignant article on the differences between Canada and the U.S.A. based on Roy McGregor’s writings and experiences. Enjoy!
A righteous nation, a nightmare of hell
And another comparative article about Little Canada, Minnesota:
O Little Canada, a home away from home
Miltonman, your rabid support of a government that lies and undermines democracy at every opportunity and justifies the betrayal of it’s citizens with blacked out documents speaks volumes about you, and your lack of basic moral character.
Your obvious lack of moral character is the fundamental reason why you support this regime.
Birds of a feather and all that…
The majority of Canadians do not want to be ruled by a dictator, they want a democracy. That is a fact, whether you like it or not.
No life like it…the YAK ENTEHER KUNENDA
It is nice to live in Canada.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/world/asia/01afghan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
HAPPY CANADA DAY! to all!
Confused J Townley thinks I voted for the Liberals and says,
“Miltonman, your rabid support of a government that lies and undermines democracy at every opportunity speaks volumes about you.”
Jay, I voted Conservative, not Liberal.
Now go play in the traffic with your i-pod in your ear.
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.30.07 10:26 pm
Well, perhaps the real HM has come back. Whatever was going on yesterday was strange to say the least. But i know the Death Star trolls are down to the last of the bottom of the Kool-Aide barrel, and man oh man, that has got to be some really potent stuff. We all know they are very challenged when it comes to mixing things.
Billy I never went away . If it wasn’t you I was responding to then my sincerest apologies .
Geo was the one that pointed out that it didn’t sound like your usual cheerful,humorous self .
Spent the afternoon searching posts that you have made previously and they were nothing like what was being said on G’s Blog yesterday .
I emailed G and told him someone was playing games as a partial post of mine ended up in a Geo response to something you said .
Your right that Kool-Aide must be debilitating what little synapses they have left .
Just shocked .
It seems that people don’t like the fact that you Geo and I think somewhat alike.
I hope this goes to the real Billy .
Miltonboy;
TWICE now you’ve elected to respond by selectively editing my posts to suit your ill conceived agenda. That’s quite dishonest, but something I would expect from a Harpercite.
You are welcome to ignore the facts Miltyboy, like how your hero lied to Canadians, how he justified his lies with 18 pages of blacked out documents. How a signed agreement called the Atlantic Accords was arbitrarily modified without the consent of the signees.
The list goes on, and Canadians realize it in spite of posers like you trying to bait people online with lame mistruths.
The facts won’t go away just because they don’t suit you.
It is fun though responding to your lies Milty. Gives me the opportunity to state the facts again. You know, remind people how dishonest this regime really is. Thanks for that.
By Hunter Mars on 07.01.07 4:10 pm
Got it…no problemo on my end. Thank you!
HAPPY CANADA DAY! to all!
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.01.07 1:41 pm
Back atcha .
Geo was the one that pointed out that it didn’t sound like your usual cheerful,humorous self.
By Hunter Mars on 07.01.07 4:10 pm
I am not always cheerful or humourous. Those were my posts, but they required reading and thought. Anyway, it is all said and done now.
John, I am not a Liberal, and have never ever in my life voted for Liberal. Bill Blaikie has been my member of Parliament for almost 30 yrs now so you know how I have been voting all those years.
By Randy on 07.01.07 9:59 am
While I did not make negative comments on Canada Day, I feel I have to respond to your post with both positive and negative comments.
As a progressive conservative I can understand your support for Bill Blaikie. If he had become leader of the NDP I would certainly have considered voting for them. He always seemed to be an MP with a great deal of integrity. To me when the NDP selected Jack Layton over Bill Blaikie they selected style over substance.
Miltonman’s comments reflects the differences between progressive conservatives and the new right wing Conservatives. To them everything is partisan and extreme right: honesty and a sincere commitment to public service is irrelevant.
I understand your concerns with the direction the NDP has taken under Layton. I could not vote for the NDP under Layton’s leadership. This leaves me with two choices for the next election: a Liberal MP that is a hard working constituency representative and the young Green Party candidate who is a political neophyte but seems to have some really interesting ideas for the future.
Randy -
Oh, I’m sorry. I did not know you voted NDP for the past 30 years.
Wow,
If there is anything I can do to help you with your many problems, then please, let me know.
You need lots of rest.
By Haltonjohn on 07.01.07 12:07 pm
——————–
John, I can assure you I have no problems at all. I am happily retired and stress free thank you very much.
I am a regular here on Garth’s site even though I live in Manitoba because he gives me some hope that there can be honest,open and accountable politicians in Ottawa. Thanks Garth for letting all Canadians have a say here on your blog.
To everyone have a great Canada Day and enjoy the fireworks. Looks like rain and way to high winds here in the Peg for the fireworks tonight though.
J townley –
Sorry J, but Miltonman is getting the better of you. Try to be calm and learn to relax. I think he just feels sorry for your lost sole.
Happy Birthday Canada.
Another good day without a corrupt government stealing out of our back pockets.
Cheers.
By Hunter Mars on 07.01.07 5:12 pm
To them everything is partisan and extreme right.
By C. B. Innes on 07.01.07 5:47 pm
Unfortunately, you’re ever so correct! I watched the news this evening, and Harper stood there politicing, the ONLY thing he seems capable of doing, regardless of the situation.
It was the coverage of the celebration at Parliament Hill, and Harper and the Governor General were walking along talking to the public.
My experience has been, and I trust it without recourse, when someone is so bent and determined to gain power, they do NOT deserve it.
Real leaders care about the people they have responsibility for above their own fortunes. I felt Harper demeaned the day!
That is without political assessment…only looking at his chosen actions, and that is how I determine genuiness.
BTW, Happy Canada Day! Steaks are ready to hit the hot coals, and then the fireworks tonight.
A stimulating read for after Canada Day.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/sikh-politics-canada/index.html
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.30.07 10:26 pm
No way Geo :
As is mine for you my friend. And for Bill.
Oh no, how much of this stuff has been Bill or not? I’m confused.
Bill M?? Where are you??
Geo
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.30.07 10:26 pm
No way Geo :
As is mine for you my friend. And for Bill.
Oh no, how much of this stuff has been Bill or not? I’m confused.
Bill M?? Where are you??
Geo
By Georgine on 07.01.07 7:31 pm
Geo :
From what I understand all of it .
Email me if you like .
Garth has it and I’ll ask him to pass it along to you .
Happy Canada Day Geo and everyone .
Including our right wing brothers and sisters .
A CANADIAN STORY ….My grandparents, on my mother’s side, came to Canada over one hundred years ago, at the encouragement of then Prime Minister, Wilfred Laurier along with his Minister of the Interior, Clifford Sifton. Sifton wanted to build “a nation of good farmersâ€. When my grandfather, Mykylo, a young shoemaker in the Ukraine saw Sifton’s offer of “free landâ€, he jumped at the chance of starting a new. So, along with so many of his countrymen he came to this new land, to southwestern Manitoba. He soon met his future wife, Tekla, and they set about making a life for themselves and their children. Mykylo, being a hardworking and shrewd man, soon prospered and was able to move his young family (which now included my Mom) to a homestead in Prairie Grove, just outside of Winnipeg city, near what is now the mint.
My Mom always made sure my sisters and I understood what it took for these early pioneers, like my grandparents, to do what they did to homestead and lay the foundation for our great country. She once said to me, “Esther, if my parents could come to this country, in the bottom of boat, from nothing to nothing, then you owe it to yourself and your children to go forward and make this a better place for all of us.†I have never forgotten my Mother’s words on that day. The day I left my hometown of Winnipeg with my young husband and two small children, so many years ago, on a plane bound for Toronto.
My whole life I have loved this country (from coast to coast to coast) and it has always been a personal dream to some how pay back for all this country has given me. Maybe that is why I got into politics. What I do know, is that one day I met Garth Turner, and he embodied everything that I believe to be a metaphor for the Canadian ideology. Garth and I, and an army of volunteers worked together to get him elected. Why? Because Garth promised to be the voice of Halton in Ottawa. It has been both a privilege and an honour to have spent the last 18 months serving the constituents of Halton here at Garth Turner’s office on Main Street in Milton.
During that time I have come to meet so many of you. I can’t tell you how good it feels every time we can assist one more constituent sort through the maze of paperwork on such things as passports, immigration, Canada pension, employment insurance or even to direct them to the right level of government to contact for local, regional and provincial issues. It is one thing to fight the fight to get elected, but it is quite another to serve the folks after the campaign office closes and the signs are put away. Garth campaigned to be the voice of Halton; to serve the constituents. And on that, he has never faltered.
It is my honour and my privilege to serve the people of Halton, on Garth’s behalf, each and every day. I salute you with pride, my fellow Canadians, from all of us here at 86 Main Street, every day is Canada Day! So let us all, for just this one day, for my incredible grand daughter Laura, who boasts seven, yes seven countries of origin for her Canadian roots, put our differences aside and revel in this glorious privilege ….. to everyone on this blog …… HAVE A WONDERFUL CANADA DAY!!
HaltonJohn: His lost “sole”?? Do you mean he lost his shoe? Poor guy.
With all the secrecy and lack of accountability coming out of Public Works we have no idea how much money is being “stolen” by the current Cons.
Happy Happy Canada Day to All!
We in Vancouver are going to have fireworks for the first time in years! Aren’t we lucky? Powers that be cited crowd control issues before. (weak excuse) But once they got the Olympics they realised they had to loosen up. Oh well.
So just for fun and in celebration of CD 140 here is Rick Mercer’s “Talking to Americans (about Canada) 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLXRVvA6T9k
h/t http://liberalcatnip.blogspot.com/2007/07/happy-canada-day-bonne-fete-canada.html
ps Bill, I’m glad it was you and of course you don’t have to be humourus all of the time. I was taken by surprise was all but that’s good.
But the bloody trolls (probably obs or GP, shadow is too stupid) ! No shame, no class. Shows just how low they will go. Sneaky bottom feeding freepers.
If I said anything untoward in the past couple of days, Bill, I apologise. I do run on, on occasion.
Geo
Miltonman: You only thought you were voting Conservative. You must be shocked and anguished that your vote has been used to twist and distort true Conservatism. The Alliance and Reformers sure pulled the wool over your eyes (and ears).
Surely you will not be fooled twice.
If I said anything untoward in the past couple of days, Bill, I apologise. I do run on, on occasion.
Geo
By Georgine on 07.01.07 8:16 pm
Not to worry. We just got back from the best fireworks yet. Aerial bombs that reached heaven itself and a huge crowd.
As to the trolls…it just shows they have felt the blade…my blade apparently, and their death throes are evident. There is a lot of Roadkill in the Muskoka…They are now part of it!. May the Ravens feed to their fill! Then come the ANTS!
They may ‘carrion’ as usual! LMAO!
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Not yet 9pm here on the left coast so still an hour and more before the fire work start.
I’m hoping everyone else’s have been wonderful and no one was rained out. It looked overcast on the news.
Esther, thank you for your story. That was wonderful. I wish more of us had thought to share ours today.
Mine is just being lucky that my parents got off the boat when they did or I may have been born outside the 200 mile limit. What nationality would I have been then? As it is I am proudly a 1st generation Canadian.
So one last time before I head of to the Quay to watch the fireworks; Esther, Garth (I so appreciate all you do) and all my friends and those of you who don’t like my politics or my belief system:) Happy Canada Day.
There goes the 9 o’clock gun!
So one last time before I head of to the Quay to watch the fireworks
By Georgine on 07.01.07 11:45 pm
Would that be Longsdale Quay? Wat a phenomenol place. Freshest seafood you can get without a boat! LOL
I remember seeing the fruits from the Okanagon Valley…Blackberries the size of strawberries. the ferry ride across the bay was wonderful, and the bridge in the distance is quite a sight, as are the cruise ships at dock. The CN and CP freight yards speak of Canada and our massive trade with Asia. I wish all Canadians could see the countless containers and trains bringing goods to the port.
Vancouver is a neat place, just hard to drive in due to too few highways and bridges.
Yes Bill,
That’s my Quay. Walking distance from my place:)
lol…oh yes, if someone wanted to bring Vancouver to a grinding halt (not that I’m suggesting it of course, the Olympics have not yet started;) all they need do is coordinate a few old clunkers to stall out on Lions Gate, 2nd Narrows, Knight St and for fun the Granville St Bridge. Utter and complete grid-lock of Vancouver and North and West Van. Miles in all directions.
And you can’t get there from here! Ah, life in a little pocket. But it sure is pretty when the sun comes out as it finally has today.
You must let me know when next you are on the left coast, we will do the Quay:) Bring Garth, Stephane and MH:) We’ll do lunch. lol!
Geo
if someone wanted to bring Vancouver to a grinding halt…
By Georgine on 07.02.07 11:40 am
Yeah, and route the traffic through Gastown so the hookers get their fair share, eh? LMAO! Then stop at Dalilah’s for one of 150 types of Martinis. LOL
If ever we get out that way, and I hope we can take Via Rail across Canada, as my wife has never seen it all like I have had the marvelous opportunity to, I will let you know. I think it is the best way to see this vast country. No tiresome driving, just sit in the Club Car, drink, talk, play cards, and watch Canada roll by. That is especially a good idea travelling across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, because, well, there just isn’t much to see, it all pretty much does look like Corner Gas. Then you go to your sleeper berth, and another day dawns with fantastic meals served in the Dining car on real linen, and cooked to perfection. Only problem is time and the cost has gotten very high.
By Esther Shaye on 07.01.07 8:08 pm
Thank you so much for sharing those experiences. Keep on keeping on, as the saying goes Esther!
You must let me know when next you are on the left coast, we will do the Quay:) Bring Garth, Stephane and MH:) We’ll do lunch. lol!
Geo
By Georgine on 07.02.07 11:40 am
I have a better idea…How about we do dinner at Hy’s and Stephane pick up the tab? LOL The Chateaubriand is scrumptous. And of course several bottles of Chateauneuf du Pape to properly prepare the pallette for each bite. Bon appetite ma ami!
Perhaps a proper Champaigne Chocolate Truffle cake for dessert? We may have to go over to the Four Seasons for that? LOL
By Georgine on 07.02.07 11:40 am
Oh, and please have a nice cup of tea at the Tea House in Stanley Park, if it is still standing after that terrible storm. What a lovely setting.
f ever we get out that way, and I hope we can take Via Rail across Canada, as my wife has never seen it all like I have had the marvelous opportunity to, I will let you know. I think it is the best way to see this vast country. No tiresome driving, just sit in the Club Car, drink, talk, play cards, and watch Canada roll by. That is especially a good idea travelling across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, because, well, there just isn’t much to see, it all pretty much does look like Corner Gas. Then you go to your sleeper berth, and another day dawns with fantastic meals served in the Dining car on real linen, and cooked to perfection. Only problem is time and the cost has gotten very high.
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.02.07 2:18 pm
Bill,
You appear to have one of the major misconceptions about the prairie provinces. I might have agreed with you until last year when I had the opportunity to travel the region via RV. We avoided the Trans Canada and took alternative routes whenever possible. It was a real eye opener about the diversity of terrain across the region.
Although I would like to make the trip by train, I would never again make the mistake that you just made about the prairies.
Although I would like to make the trip by train, I would never again make the mistake that you just made about the prairies.
By C. B. Innes on 07.02.07 7:20 pm
I am well aware that there are magnificient places in the Prairies, but following the Trans-Canada as you say is rather uneventful. The route was chosen to be the most level possible, so the railaroads avoided the northern parts.
Gordie Johnson’s former band Big Sugar did an amazing rendition of “O Canada” on their final studio album titled “Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready?”. I’m surprised this supposed “rock” radio DJ was not able to find it. The CD was released less than 5 years ago and had a couple very popular singles on rock radio as well as Muchmusic.
Actually, I think “The Maple Leaf Forever†would have been a better anthom.
By slg
Sorry, slg. No. No way. Never. Too closely aligned to the Orange Lodge and the Riel hanging.
It would be a fine anthem for a Canada that had no French language speaking founding group or a Protestant majority. We currently have neither.
What’s your issue with Oh, Canada. It’s a fine, fine anthem.
J Townley
Any positive feelings Canadians attained when Harper was elected came from his election promises….
No matter what Harper and his cowardly minions do to destroy Canada, Canadians will remain proud of their country.
Afraid you’re wrong Townley. The last poll has federalism on the rise in Quebec, and that is good news.