You can’t make this up. First, Horwath’s NDP wait until late, late in the campaign to issue their “costing” of their platform.

Then, at just past 10 this morning, they issue a release headlined “NDP will balance budget.”

Less than 30 minutes later, the release disappeared. Thus the screen cap above.

Are they going to now be issuing their costing in pencil, perhaps, along with erasers?

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It’s not very charitable, you might say. Not at all.

The way in which the federal government deals with charities, that is.

And if you believe in the work that charities do — or if you even cling to the notion that freedom of speech should be applicable to non-governmental organizations, too — then you should be concerned about what is quietly going on behind bureaucratic curtains up in Ottawa these days.

Federal bean-counters define a charity as a corporation or a trust that carries on, what else, “charitable purposes” — meaning, an enterprise set up “for the benefit of the public,” or a “sufficient segment” of the public.

The leading case on charities goes back to the 19th century. There, no less than the House of Lords ruled a legitimate charity could be involved in the relief of poverty, or advancement of education or religion, or “other purposes beneficial to the community in a way the law regards as charitable.”

If that all sounds to you that a faceless bureaucrat (or a vengeful politician) can bend the word “charity” to fit whatever subjective criteria they’d like, you’d be right. The rules governing charities in Canada have always been pretty loosey-goosey.

And therein lies the problem.

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First game of the season.

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Populist promises and pandering politicians
Windsor Star 
Sat Sep 24 2011 
Page: A8 

By Gord Henderson 

I hoped for something different from Conservative leader Tim Hudak, some inspirational picture of where he wants to take this province.

Instead we get chain gangs (not that I have anything against putting inmates to work), a crusade against smart meters and an inflexible insistence that he’ll break a signed contract with one of the world’s most advanced corporations, Samsung, no matter what it costs taxpayers and no matter how damaging it is to the province’s reputation as a place to invest.

His vow to begin dismantling Ontario’s fledgling green energy industry, killing hundreds of new Windsor area jobs in the process, was a deal killer for me. How the hell can I vote for a guy who hasn’t the foresight to see this sector’s potential?

How can Hudak not see what the Chinese – who are eating our lunch in just about every sector – have recognized in becoming the world’s largest wind energy provider in just a few years and with mind-boggling plans for expansion?

 

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It means we work even harder, relentlessly, like we are way, way behind, and seek the privilege of governing again.

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Morning headlines – and look at what the socialists are saying about the conservatives! They’d prop them up! We knew Horwath had yanked the NDP away from its traditional roots – but not this much!

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Statement by Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association President Fred LeBlanc

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2011 /CNW/ – Today I became aware of the following comments made by Ontario NDP candidate Anthony Marco about Ontario fire fighters.

As a 26 year professional fire fighter and President of the over 11,000 professional fire fighters across Ontario, I am deeply insulted by this quote and ideology. Our members put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and the citizens of Ontario, including Mr. Marco.

Far too many have paid the ultimate sacrifice. On October 2nd, 24 more names will be added to the Ontario Fallen Firefighters Memorial at Queens Park.

Doctors, fire fighters, and police officers, are everyday heroes and I am not ashamed to say it.

I am shocked that this type of rhetoric is coming from a candidate and I hope that this is not a shared view within the New Democratic Party.

Anthony Marco, NDP Candidate, lovehatethings.com, November 2010:

“There are a lot of very honourable, very righteous, very heroic people who die on a daily basis for what they believe in. And I think we throw the term ‘hero’ around a little bit too loosely these days. I think we need to really tie it a lot more to a belief system, as opposed to a job. I’m tired of hearing, and no offense to doctors or firefighters or policemen, but automatically calling occupations as heroic, I’m tired of hearing about that. Doing your job isn’t necessarily heroic, there can be heroic elements in there. There can be, but there doesn’t have to be. You don’t automatically become a hero just because you put on a uniform of some sort or have a title before or after your name.”

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Police Personnel Insulted by Candidate’s Comments

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2011 /CNW/ – As thousands of police personnel members of Ontario’s Police Services travel toOttawa to participate in the Canadian Police Memorial, honouring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow citizens, we are deeply troubled at the remarks of Anthony Marco, NDP candidate.

Police officers face life and death issues every single day.  In each and every duty, however routine, police duties are fraught with peril.  Officer Garrett Styles of York Region, one of those we honour Sunday in Ottawa, is the most recent Ontario example.

Firefighters have been similarly dismissed by Mr. Marco, as have doctors who face different challenges, but are no less brave.  This lack of understanding is beyond us.

Our membership is insulted at the continued inclusion of Anthony Marco on the NDP ticket.

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