McGuinty was right. The renegade unions were wrong. Their “protest” was and is illegal.
There’s a lesson, here, for a couple Ontario Liberal leadership candidates, I’d say.
UPDATE: Comment from a teacher:
“AT WORK AND LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT!
Sam Hammond is a disgrace and this ruling should be considered a repudiation of so much of his rhetoric and ETFO’s position.
Get the eff out of the way and just let me do my job, Sam.”
Are you like me, and are you now completely and totally fed up when writers write “here’s the thing” in their prose?
What does it mean, really? “Pay attention to what comes next”? “This next part is what I think is important”? “I’m clearing my throat, in writing”? “Yes, I’m just as pretentious and faddish as everyone else”?
I do it, too, so don’t think that I’m with the angels, on this. But, here’s the thing: I, er, hereby pledge not to do it anymore.
TORONTO – Ontario Liberal legend Elinor Caplan has declared her support for leadership contender Sandra Pupatello.
Caplan, who had previously been associated with Glen Murray, today said she has today enthusiastically joined Team Pupatello.
“She is the best candidate in the race,” said Caplan, a former senior Ontario cabinet minister. “She is the candidate who knows how to beat both PCs and New Democrats. She is the candidate who can win.”
Caplan said that she has known, and worked with, Pupatello for many years. “I respect Sandra very much,” said Caplan. “She is a remarkable person, and an outstanding leader. She is the one who can win in every part of the province. She has never lost an election, in her many years in politics.”
Elinor Caplan, PC, served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1997, and was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004. A proud Liberal, she served as a cabinet minister in the provincial government of David Peterson and the federal government of Jean Chrétien.
“Sandra’s a winner!” said Caplan. “I urge all delegates and delegates-to-be to join her team!”
“I’m thrilled that Elinor is joining our team,” said Pupatello. “Her passion, dedication and experience are invaluable. We’re running a great campaign with grassroots support across the province.”
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Whatever does it mean? Stay tuned!
Personally, I think his move effectively disenfranchises the hundreds of good Liberals who stood up to support him. Those people have been left in the lurch, and will now likely be forced to become “independents” – meaning they will have precious little chance of being elected anywhere this weekend.
It’s not a “democratic protest.” That’s bullshit.
Let there be no mistake: they are breaking the law.
Ontario Liberal leadership candidates who equivocate on this should know they are hereafter being defined by that. You can’t have it both ways: you can’t aspire to be the chief lawmaker and then side with law breaking. Everyone knows who I am talking about.
We either favour the rule of law or we don’t.
My candidate, my Premier, do.
About a decade ago, I was asked by Izzy Asper to write a column for the Ottawa Citizen. “You’re a Liberal,” he said over the phone from his beloved Winnipeg. “They’re too conservative. I want you to write for them.”
Okay, I said.
After a few months, Citizen editor Scott Anderson – who wanted me always to dish on the Liberals, but never the Conservatives – called to say they were dumping my column.
How come, I said.
“You’re too Liberal,” he said.
That’s what Izzy wanted me to be, I said. It’s what I am.
“Um, er,” he said.
Anyway. Once a weasel, always a weasel. Scott Anderson – conservative fart-catcher – is now fully and inarguably revealed, here.
Somewhere, Izzy is laughing his ass off.
“Just print more money,” says Moffat, who alleges that he is a professor. “It didn’t work for the Alberta Socreds in the thirties, but I think Obama should do it anyway.”