Opening Statement



Wednesday 31 January 2018

Oh Cannabis Winter 2018 News y Views 1

Inhale! Hold! Exhale! Smile! Then Read "Oh Cannabis News Y View" @ Directory! UpDAtEs AddED iN LaRgE TyPe! Live tweets @ davidchiarelli 


HEADLINES


CC5: Cannabis Culture 5 plead guilty! They receive hefty fines but no jail time! Charges against the 17 CC bud tenders arrested during the Project Gator raids are dropped. Lots of legal precedents set! More below! 

Bill C-45, Canada's new legalization bill passes through the House of Commons [HoC] Now it's headed to the Senate with some Conservative members threatening to delay it until 2019! PM Justin Trudeau's now waffling on the July 1st implementation date too!

Bill C-46 Canada's new impaired driving bill also passes the HoC but might well not be based on very sound medical facts about weed!

Canadian First Nations demand autonomy in regulating the sales and distribution of Cannabis on Treaty Lands.

No Cannabis Amnesty seems in the works! Canada's thriving grass root cannabiz sector, headed by many of our leading pioneer cannabis activists, remain shut out under the Trudeau governments new legal monopoly on weed!



Bill 174: Ontario Cannabis Act passed into law, to take effect July 1, 2018 with 14 initial outlets opening across the province.

Vapor Lounges and Craft Cannabis Dispensaries remain in legal limbo in Ontario! Ontario's are supposed to only buy weed at a government outlet and toke it at home. 

Ontario's Premier Wynne is threatening a massive and very heavy-handed dispensary crackdown!

AG Jeff Sessions: Trump's Reefer Madman is still very determined to thwart the state legalization drive at the federal level! What next?

Dana Larsen kicks off his "OverGrow Canada" free seed giveaway in time for the spring planting season! Link below!

EU/UK Updates: The medical cannabis movement in Europe grows!

All this and more below ..................

OH CANADA



Exclusive Video: Marc y Jodie Emery of the Cannabis Culture 5 speak about "legalization activism" outside the Old Toronto City Hall Courthouse after their December 18th hearing. They discuss their guilty plea, fines and criminal record resulting from the Project Gator cross Canada dispensary busts last March. 

Their focus is on moving forward to hopefully reposition Cannabis Culture ["our brand is integrity"] within Canada's new legal market as now promised by the Trudeau government for next summer. 

Note Marc's critique of how the legalization model is being enforced, most notably in Ontario and Quebec, through eliminating and replacing our popular "free market" craft dispensaries, with inevitably much inferior, government monopoly run stores. 

It just goes to show! Surely, the mounting cannabis busts across Canada are a blatant government attack on both small, grass root, free enterprise and our most basic Canadian civil liberties, as recreational users and medical cannabis patients! 

Enough!

See my video @ Youtube My full review of their court date is @ HERE! 


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backtracks, now claiming that he doesn't know where folks got the darn idea that July 1st was the implementation date for legalized weed. Seems it will be sometime this summer instead! Ummm. Yeah. Sure. We will wait. Er ... let's smoke one to that! @ MG

Amnesty Now! Toronto's major daily newspapers are arguing that the Trudeau government needs to offer a pot amnesty now, for legalization to be just, fair and to make amends. Check out the what the Editorial Boards are saying @ Star and @ Post Also, this opinion piece @ Globe

Six Nation Bust: The Green Health dispensary on the indigenous reserve near Hamilton Ontario, is the second to be raided in six months. The Ontario Attorney General's [AG] office is asserting that the province's new cannabis law will also apply on reserve lands. Meanwhile, Chief Donald Meracle at the Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve outside Belleville, is insisting that there won't be any raids there. Band police consider it a "grey area" issue. Judges won't be prosecuting any cases. More news links and video @ CBC


High Noon In Saskatchewan: The First Nations are about to challenge provincial jurisdiction over pot sales on treaty lands there too. Many reservations have not even been granted a government dispensary permit from on high, as legalization looms @ CBC

Canadian AFN: Assembly of First Nation Chiefs are demanding the right to regulate the sale and distribution of recreational and medicinal weed on Treaty Lands. Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day and his Quebec counterpart; Chief Ghislain Picard, have now struck a committee to rally AFN community support and assert their economic rights. Ostensibly, the goal is to "create jobs and earn revenue" on the reserves. That includes adopting "more business friendly rules" and documenting their "community health, social and economic concerns". The AFN expects plenty of legal challenges ahead. However, they do not believe that Ontario's new Cannabis law applies on First Nation lands @ MBD @ Globe 

Sins Of Omission: Interestingly, the indigenous community was not consulted on taxation, nor are they directly mentioned anywhere within the Ontario's new Cannabis Act. Likewise Ottawa is being confronted with the same unaddressed and unmet concerns from numerous other First Nation communities across Canada as Bill C-45 passes into law @ Star @ CBC @ BaySt @ CBC and @ CBC



Bill 174: Ontario's Cannabis Act is passed into law by the provincial Liberal and NDP in a 63-27 vote. Opposition Leader Pat Brown's Conservative party opposed the bill citing policing concerns. The Act calls for $1 million fine and up to 2 years minus a day jail time for dispensaries breaking the new law. Party Leader Andrea Horwath expressed the NDP's concern that only 14 stores will be opened at first, come July 1st, when the new law takes effect. More info, including the locations of the first 14 Ontario Cannabis Retail Control [OCRC] outlets @ Star 

Bill 174 -Royal Assent Chapter S.O. 2017 C.26: Read the Act and save the link for future reference. It's all here @ ONTLA

Premier Wynne's Corporate Neo Lib Agenda: Ontario's monopoly over legalized weed will make the provincial government the largest legal pot dealer in Canada and perhaps the world @ Star



Wynne -The Queen of Pot!?!

Tax Revenue Sharing: The feds finally agree to give the provinces 75% of the windfall taxes from legalization, rather than the proposed 50/50 split @ CTV

Bill C-45:  Canada's legalization bill passed the House of Commons with a 200-82 vote. Andrew Scheer's CPC conservative opposition wants the bill delayed a year, ostensibly due to safety concerns. The leftie NDP seems just glad that some homegrown restrictions have been lifted, and medibles will eventually be allowed @ CBC

Senate Road Block: The conservatives are now threatening to delay the bill in the Canadian senate for more "sober second thought" before finally passing it into law @ Star

Bill C-46: The Canadian senate also faces concerns about Canada's new impaired driving law. Could it discriminate against medical cannabis patients? Contrary to popular opinion, measuring how much THC we've taken, and whether it's safe to drive, are far from being clear cut issues @ Lift Backgrounder @ Reason



Cannabis Activist Ming Saad shows us how it's done in Ottawa!

Ming's Thing: The frontline Ottawa CC spin-off dispensary, in the shadow of Parliament Hill has been shut down and closed Toronto style, for the third and perhaps final time, now that the bailiff's been called in to change the locks. I spoke with Ming recently. Rest assured -Bank Street shop or not, she and the Ottawa crew certainly aren't down for the count! Go Ming Go! More @ OC

Justice Denied: Hello Bill Blair! Julian Fantino! Canada's former police and politico reefer madmen, after fighting legalization for years, are now cashing in on it big time! Meanwhile, cannabis activists like the CC5's Marc and Jodie Emery are prohibited from participating, because they broke the law! @ MacLeans

Busted: Trudeau courts controversy by claiming that he can't decriminalize weed now. Apparently, when we buy illegal pot we are funding big, bad gangs and organized crime @ CBC

Prohibition 2.0: What to make of the Trudeau government's scary stories about organized crime running the cannabis industry in Canada? Bull shit! Most of Canada's illegal growers and dispensary owners are otherwise law-abiding citizens. Their pot biz mostly indie @ Globe



Dana Larsen Sez OverGrow Canada Now!

OverGrow Canada 2018: BC Cannabis Activist Dana Larsen is once again giving away free CBD seeds to plant across Canada as per his annual "Plant the Seeds of Freedom! Overgrow the Government" campaign. Order by February 10th and Dana promises you will get 100 of them by the end of the month, in time to germinate and plant this spring. Instructions included! Sign up @ OGC @ OC

Higher Grounds: Read my Blog on the why's and wherefore's of Dana Larsen's "OverGrow Canada" @ HERE!

Weed Gold Card: Canuck's are racing to apply for a medical cannabis license even though recreational weed is scheduled to be legalized here this summer. Maybe they don't trust the government? Hey! I've been saying for ages, this is your gold card against all the bullshit! More @ MIN

Back 2 Work: Canadian Employers need to much more carefully consider workplace cannabis issues now that it is legal. Key issues will include medical usage, workplace safety, productivity and drug testing. Expect a lot of big legal challenges in the daze ahead @ MacLeans


Jack Boot Ontario: Terribly unpopular Ontario Neo Lib Premier Kathleen Wynne is threatening million dollar fines and jail time as a part of a massive police crackdown on the province's craft dispensaries for her Corporate Canada buddies prior to legalization! That would need to happen between now and election day June 7th! A good move for her?!? Let's see @ Globe

"Peripheral Dependency 101" or "Shut Out + On Fire": Local suppliers are very angry that the economically challenged province of Newfoundland has decided to buy it's weed from Canopy Growth Corp; an Ontario supplier @ CBC

IN THE NEWS



Narc'ed: Head AG Reefer Madman Jeff Sessions accidentally reveals the secret hush hush agenda for a big, closed door meeting with leading US anti cannabis advocates! What BS! Read more from the big faker @ Huff A "who's who" is @ MM

US War on Drugs: California joins the roster of legal US states! What does AG Sessions do? Looks like he's about to double down in his war on drugs, by rolling back an Obama Era policy that had federal prosecutors butting out of the reefer madness horror show at the state level @ Vice

"Nasty Business" Or "Jeff Let's The Dogs Out": Session's move is compared to letting the dog off the leash, without anybody knowing what comes next. Lacking further direction, prosecutors have no idea what they should or shouldn't do and why. Meanwhile, the budding US cannabiz industry is thrown into a lot of uncertainty for the foreseeable future. It's a pretty shitty way to run a country, let alone the AG's office @ Cannabist



Bad Smell: Turns out Republican support for AG Jeff Sessions latest, dirty move is very weak at best in Washington. Hmmm. Seems the GOP have more business acumen then their CPC: Canadian Conservative Pary counterparts here! More @ Vice

Bad 4 Biz: US GOP's Ron Paul points out that the war on drugs is an attack on our civil liberties. Also that it's simply bad for business, robbing a lot of states of a huge tax windfall. Like their Canadian conservative counterparts both the GOP and CPC are supposed to be all about business. But how many of them can they see past their narrow self interests? Their own sadly misinformed, and outdated, social conservative views? More @ Fox

Buck Stops Here: Legalized cannabis in the US could result in a projected $125 million tax windfall and a million jobs, by 2025 @ BI

Legal Chaos: Top state prosecutors with strong ties to the community could be hesitant to enforce the legal loophole AG Sessions has opened for them to bust for weed, especially in states where it's already been legalized. Everybody else watch out? More @ Cannabist

Democrats introduce a federal legalization bill with a special focus on "restorative justice" for communities hurt by the War on Drugs, including an amnesty for potheads with a criminal drug record @ BI


Who's the War on Drugs Really For Anway?!?

Grinch Time: Budtenders at the Sweet Leaf dispensary in Colorado lost their Christmas' bonuses after a police raid. Either the police and/or management screwed up, but either way, they are now out of work, broke and struggling to make ends meet ..... What gives?!? Time to unionize?!? More @ DC

Hard Times: Over 10,000 US prisoners are serving federal time under prohibition. Race plays a part: the majority are from America's visible minority groups. Very few are guilty of weapon offences @ HT

Rocking House Party Bluez: 70 Georgia party goers are arrested by police after they smell pot outside a house, enter without a warrant and find an ounce of weed. When nobody will claim it, some are even tethered and layered during the arrest. The NAACP is now getting involved @ WSBTV

Viva Green Europe: This interactive map helps us chart developments in the medical cannabis legalization drive across the UK and EU! Lotsa links @ TD 

Mother Africa: The continent is rich in cheap, top quality weed. Drug laws are a lot more lax. Legalization could spread quickly. It looks like that just might be about to happen as the movement grows @ Herb

GREEN MARKETING



Lisa Campbell tells us how to green market!

GMT: Green Market Toronto moves on! Notes on the Nuit Verde/ Green Night finale @ HERE!

Green Market Toronto provides our city dwellers with farm fresh, readily available, medical cannabis products at great prices. My review of the December pop up mart is @ HERE!  Info on The January "Nuit Verte" market is @ THERE!

Cannabiz Activist Lisa Campbell explains the Toronto Green Market success story @ Leafly

Toronto's "QC: Queens of Cannabisrepresent the "pinking of pot" by and for women, as a part of Canada's "weed revolution". They are but a part of the growing army of progressive female cannabiz entrepreneurs across our country, as legalization looms @ Chat and @ Twitter



Corporate Drug Shopping: Canada's Shoppers Drug Mart has inked a medical cannabis deal with supplier MedReleaf. That's in addition to previously signing up Aphria for flower and oils. An online sales model is being planned @ Huff

High Times With Stats Canada; Turns out Canucks smoked $6.2 billion worth of cannabis in 2015. The largest group of tokers are aged 45 to 64. Plus, Canadians aren't complete strangers to spending far less than $10+ a gram, as planned under the new government legal pricing scheme! Wouldn't it be great to see the streets completely flooded with $150 an ounce weed come legalization day? To completely subvert, dove tail joint style, Trudeau's Corporate Canada Weed Agenda! @ Globe




Abi Roach -helping U find a safe n' happy place to toke!


Vapor Lounges -Yes or No? Our right to toke outside the home, once pot's legal in Canada, is both a public health and a social justice issue. The fate of Ontario's vapour lounges still hangs in the smokey air -will they be allowed or not? Hotbox Cannabis Advocate Abi Roach weighs in! More @ OC

Grass Root Green Bluez: The Canadian government still isn't allowing Canada's underground, cannabiz industry to see the light of day within it's tightly regulated, monopolistic, legalization model. As our cannabis community rightly knows best; price, accessibility, and variety will be the tipping point, in determining what we buy and where we shop. Our small, indie growers, producers and craft dispensary entrepreneurs have long suffered fines. Don't fear jail time. Can deliver the goods. Watch as the legal, big biz boys stumble and fall flat on their face when the doors open this summer. Surely, it's high time to let the real grass root pros in to set up shop right and do what they do best @ Globe



People of Colour are busted far more often than whites. They are also very unlikely to own a dispensary. Cannabis activists must learn how to recognize systemic racism within the cannabiz industry while working to address it within the  legalization process @ Ca

Corporate White Wash: Canada's LP's [licensed producers] of weed are predominantly run by white guys, much like the rest of Canada's corporate sector. Surprised? Check out the straight facts at my "Teacher Free Speech News y Views" blog [LINK] and check out the mirror image @ Vice

No White Wash: Increasing diversity by including more black, brown and women folk in the new cannabis economy, is an increasingly big focus for many local community groups @ NL

HIGHER LEARNING



Beginners Guide to Medibles: Or, I can't believe I ate the whole thing! I did! I did! @ CC

"High Times in The Kitchen o' Love" or "DIY Cannabis Gummi Bears": Let's get cooking eh! @ Jez

The Strong Stuff: A toker's guide to hashish: Afghan, Moroccan, Nepalese, Bubble etc etc. etc  @ HD

Ultimate CBD's: The cannabanoids in weed are very good for safe and easily self medicating everyday aches, pain, anxiety, and stress. They aren't illegal. Without the THC you won't get high either, when you prefer to be straight @ Huff



High Anxiety: Cannabis can reportedly help a lot with anxiety. Sometimes though, it can also inadvertently add to it. Seems it's basically a question of finding the right balance of THC and CBD's that's best for you @ LGF

CSSDP: Canadian Students For Sensible Drug Policy believe the war on drugs is an important social justice and human rights issue. They are seeking to develop an open dialogue with young people about sensible cannabis use, sans the reefer madness overtones of prohibition @ SDTC

Ultimate Reefer Madness: Prohibition was never about public safety, except perhaps for the privileged few. Even Bill Nye the Science Guy knows the truth - Weed was made illegal to "oppress or suppress poor people" @ Civilized

HIGH TIMES



On The Road!

Cannabis Cultured: Hot from the court room docket in Toronto, Marc Emery takes his legalization crusade down South America way, then onto Europe until May! Follow his adventures as he makes his way about the 2 continents on Twitter! Lotsa kool pix too! @ MarcScottEmery

1950's Style Cannabis Ed 101: Yup! A kid smokes pot! Next thing they're hooked on heroin. And it's all the fault of "progressive education"! Like .... like .... like when you teach 'em much more than the 3 "r"s and don't beat them regularly with a stick. Y'bet! Here's a somewhat comic, though perhaps none too funny look back at Prohibition 101. Eh? No! No! Jeff Sessions wasn't AG back then. Was probably just a school kid himself, being spoon fed this BS, which he never forgot @ Youtube

For Those Endless Winter Nights: Here's a stoner guide to the best Netflix shows to watch when yer suitably high @ Vice




Happy New Year: the 10 best developments cannabis activists can look forward during 2018, both in Canada, the US and in general @ Civilized


Pot Shop: Check out Steve Burke's kool rap video y sign a petition to legalize the weed @ Youtube

Hot Butter -"The Popcorn Dance"! Ummm, only watch this if you are stoned @ Youtube ..... Then there's the "Popcorn Trance Remix" @ More Or howzabout Charlie Parra's "Popcorn Goes Metal" @ Even More Oh! And don't miss the 10 hour "Popcorn" video @ Much More!

Blitzed: Der Fuhrer Adolph Hitler?! Turns out he was stoned out of his gourd on meth, coke and opioids for much of WW2. Guess how the Nazi's got pumped up for combat too? Lotsa baaaaaad drugs! A real horror show! More @ Vice

Much more coming ......

COMMENTS

Monday 22 January 2018

Nuit Verte -The Green Market Toronto Grand Finale!

EDIT:

Surprise! Turns out January 21st's Green Market Toronto's pop up craft cannabis Nuite Verte/ Green Night was the grand finale, for this increasingly popular underground Toronto green marketing event! 

Spirits ran high as the growing crowd of enthusiastic medical pot and recreational aficionados lined up along Dufferin Street. It was a January night, but everyone was once again very eager to avail themselves of the Green Markets many high quality, local medibles and other craft cannabis market products. 




Our favourite local producers were all out in force, for one last time under the Green Market banner, ready, willing and able to help meet our needs; Bakers Shop, CannnabiscottiCannaworldHigh Society, Mary JaneMatty's Patties, Mrs. Fudgemaker, Sea of GreenSofa King, plus lots of other vendors. 

Toronto Green Market has been playing hide and seek with Toronto Police Services [TPS] since Mother's Day 2016. However, organizer Lisa Campbell tells "Oh Cannabis" that they are now calling it quits as legalization approaches this year. 




Regretfully, Toronto's cannabis community is now left scrambling for a bit. Medibles won't be officially available for until at least a year into the legalization process. One definitely senses a winter chill is in the air.

A pox on Justin Trudeau's refusal to decriminalize weed! Nor offer pardons! Also on the TPS for the Toronto Police Services Project Claudia and Gator busts! 

But don't panic! The high times will continue! 




Many of the producers in attendance advise me that they are still readily available to sell and ship online. Other yummy, shopping alternatives are popping up across the city, as the green market movement continues to spread and grow. 

Rest assured, you can also stay tuned to "Oh Cannabis News and Views" for lots of tasty links and reviews in the daze ahead. 



Meantime, Oh Cannabis wishes Green Market Toronto organizers Lisa Campbell and Sarah Gilles best wishes and every success with their future cannabiz endeavours. Green Market has definitely been leading edge in fighting the stigma of prohibition in "Toronto The Not-So-Good", while providing ready, reliable and instructive access to a great line of locally produced, craft cannabis products. 

As cannabis activists, Lisa, Sarah and Green Market Toronto have created a top notch green marketing model for others to now follow. One admires the compassion pricing, diversity and inclusivity principles for which they have set the new benchmark. One can only hope that our new above ground, commercial Canadian market will embrace the same truly high, ethical standards, in the years ahead!

Keep up the great work!





LINKS

Read "Oh Cannabis News Y View" @ Fall 2 Fall1 Summer @ May-June @ Spring 2 @ Spring 1 @ Jan-Feb @ December 

More: My Twitter Feed @ Twitter!  

My December Green Market Toronto Review is @ HERE!


COMMENTS:

Thursday 11 January 2018

Tim Horton Protest -Yonge/ College Toronto!




Here's a rather troubling story that you won't hear about on the daily news! That's because, of course, the mainstream media quite conveniently didn't bother to cover it, alongside the other, more polite, less troublesome Tim Horton protests across Toronto and the province this week. So, please allow me:

Come rush hour Wednesday night, our unusually wet and vile January weather couldn't dampen the anger any longer! Not in busy downtown Toronto, outside Tim Hortons in Carleton Park Place, at College and Yonge! 

Protesters were showing up in droves! To protest Tim Hortons horrible attacks against it's non-unionized workers! As the province finally raised the minimum age to $14 [Cdn] an hour! [VIDEO][VIDEO]

A hard, driving rain soon had the swelling crowd spilling off the packed sidewalk. Seeking some much needed warmth and refugee inside. 

Desperately, security tries to block our way! Angrily lunging and grabbing at anyone with a button or a sign! Fortunately, sober second thought prevails as our cameras are drawn to film their botched effort. 



Caught in the middle, unflinchingly polite but firm, Toronto Police quickly form an impenetrable barricade in front of the Tim$ coffeeshop. The manager pensively hides behind them. Peers out at us. It's a picture, perfect snapshot of Corporate Canada on the defensive, early in the new, reinvigorated, labour protest year ahead. [VIDEO]

Yup! Welcome to 2018! Tim Hortons has been caught with their hand in the cookie jar! Robbing their hardworking staff! Cutting paid breaks! Benefits! Charging for uniforms. Even confiscating your staff tips for themselves! 

Sadly, despite $3 billion in revenues, many Tim outlets are royally pissed! How dare the province hike the provincial minimum wage to provide our most lowly of workers; their poor coffee servers, a living wage! Tim$ will show them who's boss! As if .....



Canadian values eh? Tim$ has bared it's ugly teeth in no uncertain terms! It's not a pretty sight! Tim$ greedy, callous bully tactics against it's helpless, non-unionized workers, are hardly worth the price of a cheap cuppa java! Very notably not up Toronto way. Nor across our fair province, as we've seen this week.

How can you help in the good fight?

Boycott Tim$! At the very least on Tim-less Tuesdays! Attend a protest! Speak out loudly! Let Tim$ head office know how real Canadians feel! And sign the $15 & Fairness petition to:


Tell Tim Hortons: Stop Rolling Back Workers Rights! [LINK]


Pax/
Solidarity!

David C




Tim Letter 2 "Team" Staff: Nasty! Nasty! 

Read Teacher Free Speech Winter News y Views for more news, views y links @ HERE!

COMMENTS:

Wednesday 3 January 2018

Teacher Free Speech Winter 2018 News y Views 1

hEY hO! kEEP ChECKing BAcK! LaTeR AdDITIoNs WiLL bE AddED In LaRgE TYpe SeT! mY Acronym Guide IS @ hErE! ... Legalization news now moved to "Oh Cannabis!" TheRe!


EDUCATION BEAT

OFL Speaks Out: The Ontario Federation of Labour [OFL] expresses it's support for some "basic respect" and a "living wage" for Tim Hortons coffeeshop staff, as Ontario raises the minimum wage to $14 [Cdn]! OTF's comments are directed towards the CEO of Tim$ very profitable parent company. Sadly, Tim$ poorly paid workers are being very nastily targeted for special labour abuse, at many outlets across the province @ OFL

ETFO Elementary Teacher President Sam Hammond attends the January 10th Tim Hortons Yonge and College protest rally, organized by OPSEU Ontario's Public Service employees, along with the $15 and Fairness campaign! OSSTF secondary school flags, along with one from the OECTA English Catholic teachers, fly high in solidarity with the badly mistreated Tim$ staff! More links below, plus see my blog @ HERE!

Exclusive Video: Ontario Teacher Federation [OTF] President Chris Cowley expresses the teachers' frontline solidarity with our province's minimum wage workers! Hear him speak at the Tim Horton Yonge/ College St. Toronto protest @ VIDEO


OTF's Chris Cowley Speaks!

Keep Up The Bad Work: Ontario's high school graduation rate has reached 86.5%. How? By lowering standards so most anybody can stumble or fall over the passing line! Then by fudging how achievement is measured! Far from a joyous occasion, the latest results have left many teachers rolling their eyes! Sighing in despair! What real learning is actually going on? @ Star

Hush! Hush! Vs The Right To Know: Parents aren't usually told about classroom violence or evacuations at their child's school. The Ontario Durham board is seeking legal council on a trustee motion requiring more transparency. It's about time! @ DR

Workplace Hazard: There's more! An OECTA Catholic Teacher survey reveals that 60% of members have experienced workplace violence at school. Nothing new! Think underfunding! Overcrowding! A lack of support workers! Haphazard Special Ed "integration"! Disengaged parents! The list of problems goes on and on and on ... It's a free for all! I was assaulted 3 times over my 28 year teaching career here in Toronto. Seriously doubt the situation has improved. As with student violence, much still goes largely unreported to an unsuspecting public @ CBC

OPSEU Contract Win: Ontario's college faculty have a new contract! Academic Freedom? Wages? Staffing? Here's a link and summary of the gains made. Read the arbitrated settlement @ OPSEU



Me Three: In 2017, the Me Too movement finally put white male privilege on notice that enough is enough. But is that enough in and of itself? More specifically, are we being colourblind to the special plight of non-white women? More @ Atlantic

On Racism and White Privilege: How it subtly works in ways we might little suspect @ Tol

OCT: Ontario College of Teachers: Candidate info for the April 9 Council election has been posted @ OCT

OH CANADA



Tim$ Gets Rimmed: Canada's iconic coffeeshop, that's not really Canadian, gets a bad media beating and a public boycott to boot! Despite record profits, some outlets are cutting worker benefits and eliminating their paid breaks. Why?!? To pay for a raise in the provincial minimum wage to $14 [Cdn] an hour. Greedy self serving Tim$ is taking quite a hit -make mine a double double! @ Macs

Fight Back: 60% of Ontarian's support a raise in the minimum wage to $15 [Cdn] by 2019. Tim$ i$n't alone among their Corporate Canada cronie$ in exploiting staff to increa$e profit$, hence the Canadian labour movement's emphasis on a fight for a living wage. Rank and File explains some easily do-able strategies for fighting back, now and in the long term @ R+F

Cynical Election Ploy: Premier Kathleen Wynne's reversal on raising Ontario's minimum wage targets widespread popular support for such a move just in time for the June 7th provincial election. However, the NDP and Ontario's labour groups have been arguing many years for it to be incrementally implemented over time instead. Too bad she wouldn't listen! It's also a move that could've helped the province's small business sector better adjust @ AG

Debunked: Here are some widely held but often quite wrong headed right wing myths about the minimum wage. They are regularly invoked, completely without question, to deny Ontario's lowest wage workers a very much needed raise and some, very, basic, workplace benefits @ PP

Follow The Tim$ Boycott on Twitter @ #Boycott Tim Hortons @ #Boycott Tims 


Pressing Issue: A little heralded Torstar and Postmedia deal closes 30 community and daily newspapers across Canada overnight. Many of them pre-dated confederation, but are now gone in the blink of an eye. Who'll cover the local municipal news and political beat outside of our major metropolises? The Trudeau Libs don't have much to say. The Competition Board is promising to investigate, but have no doubt -all those local newspapers are gone! Kaput! A very sad day for Made In Canada freedom of speech and democracy! More @ NP @ Globe @ FP @ CBC 

"A Deathblow To Local News Coverage"For an alternative to the big biz media news coverage of the story, check out what the unions, and NDP have to say @ iPo  

Liberal Ways: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's "sunny daze" might be finally clouding over. Dipping polls for the federal party, along with tough odds for provincial re-election in Ontario and Quebec, could mean the party brand is in for a rough ride ahead in 2018. Then again, where's our majesties loyal opposition?!? More @ CBC



CPC Zzzzzzzz: Canuck Conservatives continue to flounder. Don't provide much more than a Trump North style critique of the PM and an attack on everything Liberal. All the negativity and bashing didn't work for the CPC before. Dunno why they'd think it would now. More @ NP

CPC Andrew Scheer: His social conservative bent might work well in the US, but up here, he's an outright gift to the Trudeau Liberals @ iP

NDP Jagmeet Singh, a fresh face himself in Ottawa, brings a staff of relative newbies to his federal opposition team. We'll be watching with bated breath as they scramble to get up to political speed @ Macs


Some guarantee ...


Me Too North Shocker: Ontario Progressive Conservative [PC] Pat Brown resigns 18 weeks before the June 17th provincial election, among sexual misconduct allegations. The tea totaller stands accused of plying both an underage girl and an aide with booze to get a blow job and other sexual favours, when he was a Federal Conservative MP. Of course, he's due his day in court. 

BTAIM, one recalls how he falsely stoked the flames of public discontent, by misrepresenting Ontario's sex education curriculum, despite it's important emphasis on teaching "consent". As a political strategy, it certainly helped him get elected provincial PC leader as a safe, good, old boy, social conservative. Until he flip flopped when the issue didn't prove a big vote getter in the Greater Toronto Area [GTA]. So what's up?

Perhaps it's a case of "the  harder they come, the harder they fall"? Alas! Now the PC's are left desperately scrambling, as we enter a spring election that was the parties to loose! 

Premier Wynne publicly addresses the Brown allegations as a "people" or "human problem". She praises the victims for stepping forward, as both a mother and a daughter. The Premier reminds Ontarians, both male and female, that we all need to work together to address sexual assault and harassment. When questioned, she dismissed fears that she will use this as an opportunity to call a snap election. Give her credit; she was classy!

Pat Brown: The Mainstream News Links are @ CTV @ Star @ CBC Globe @ Global

Pat Brown on Sex Ed: From my blog archives @ [LINK] [LINK] [LINK]. 

NDP Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath expresses many, everyday folks' concern that "enough is enough" with sexual assault and harassment. We will watch with bated breath for Ontario's third party to tackle the issue from further to the left and at the more everyday, grass root home and workplace level. Hmmm. Kathleen might be poised to give Andrea a good race for her election money. Go Andrea Go! More party reactions @  Global

NDP Battle 4 Relevance: The NDP enter 2018 still all but missing in action. Canadians lack any clear, effective voice from further left on our political spectrum. Meanwhile the Trudeau Libs continue to claw away at the NDP's soft, centre left base @ NP

Wynning Formula? Ontario Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne is hoping to snatch an election victory from the jaws of defeat this June 7th, despite her rock bottom polls. The minimum wage has been raised to $14 an hour. Free prescription drugs are being extended to those under age 25 @ CBC



NAFTA Poison Pills: The 6th round of the NAFTA talks commence in Montreal from January 23 to the 28th. Speculation is that US President Donald Trump will trigger a 6 month exit clause from the very successful trade agreement, with some pretty grave implications for Canada. Here's what Trump wants, along with some thoughts from the Council of Canadians, on how our team could now respond to try to salvage NAFTA @  CoC

No Opinion: PM Justin Trudeau refuses to "opine" about President Trump's shocking comments on Africa and Haiti, except to note that Canada values "openness", "respect" and is "welcoming" to immigrants from around the world. Likewise he backtracks upon his early comments about our "unruly neighbour", noting that the US is Canada's closest trading partner. In short; our PM just doesn't seem to want to ruffle Trump's tail feathers right now, despite his racist slurs @ Huff

Corporate Kanada: The federal government has decided that Canada's corporate sector lacks diversity at the top .... Hmmmm, sounds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree within the new cannabiz economy either. See "Oh Cannabis" [LINK]! .... Publicly traded companies will be required to disclose stats on diversity among top management to shareholders. It's an effort to encourage them to hire more women and people of colour in leadership positions. Apparently  the government isn't buying arguments that they can't be more equitable @ G

IN THE NEWS



"The President Is A Racist": CNN's Don Lemon confronts Trump's shocking, "shit hole", racist statements head on, in no uncertain terms. Lemon's quite memorable moment of silence is riveting TV journalism, among the new millennium's very best @ Youtube

"Silence is Complicity": A clearly disturbed Senator Corey Booker takes US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson to task over her lack of spine in refusing to acknowledge the president's profoundly, sickening racism and bigotry. She is hardly alone in that these daze, especially among the GOP and Trump's MAGA fans @ Youtube

Donald Trump = Racist: Regardless of whether Trump described Africa and Haiti as "shit holes" or "shit houses", it doesn't detract from the deeper racist subtext of his latest divisive comments, especially as they relate to DACA and US foreign policy @ Vox

Very Shitty: President Donald Trump adamantly insists that he's the "least racist person you've ever met". It's a pretty dubious and outlandish denial, to say the least. Consider his track record from the 1970's through 2018 @ NYT 


Fire Y Fury: Or "The Man Who Didn't Want 2B Prez": Blockbuster tattle tell all book from the halls of the West Wing perhaps contains few, unsuspected surprises for Trump White House Watchers. Still it fleshes out lotsa the juicy details; The Donald's chaotic management style, the Russia Probe, the firings, Steve Bannon and MacDonald hamburgs in bed by 6:30 pm. All this and more folks! Excerpt @ NY

Steven Bannon -Apologist: The harder they come, the harder they fall! The former Trump strategist's belated apology seems a case of too little too late, as the embattled Donald fights back against Sloppy Steve for dissing the First Family @ Axios



You're Fired: Even Bannon's benefactor's the Mercer family have pulled his funding, as the Donald goes on the rampage. Meanwhile, the GOP continues to fiddle about as Washington continues to burn @ Politico

America Goes Mental: Grave doubts about the mental state of the president have become a national debate as Trump continues to erratically rant and rave on Twitter and to whomever else will listen, often times becoming his own worst enemy. Here's what some of the experts say @ Vox

Missile Envy: US President Donald Trump astounds world audiences by getting into a messy and quite unseemly pissing match with third world North Korean crackpot Kim Jong Un over the size and prowess of their respective nuclear arsenals, to put it nicely @ TelUk


Der Donald's Wrecking Ball approach to US foreign policy raises congressional concerns over the president's ability to go it alone on international matters on war and peace. Yiiiikes! Best get on it quick! @ CNN

The African Union, including many long time, staunch US allies in the "War on Terror", condemn Trump's description of the continent as a "shit hole". They are demanding an apology -good luck! @ AN

World View: Other leaders from around the world also react with horror and disdain to the President of the United States racist, demeaning and divisive comments @ BI

Normalizing Trump or "How Low Can You Go?": With the bar of presidential excellency set so low nowadaze, anything goes. Praise comes very cheap. Here's how it works from a journalist's perspective @ PT

Much Ado: The Big Business GOP is always quick to praise the small biz entrepreneur as the backbone of the US economy. But the yardstick of success? For them to become a big business too! That actually marginalizes and undermines their important grass root role in economic development @ Aeon



2 Hot? 2 Cold? Depends Where You Are!

Baby It's Cold Outside: A stiff, cold weather snap in the US and Canada has climate change deniers, lead by President Trump, claiming that global warming does not exist. We may well look back fondly at how cold this winter is during the years ahead. Elsewhere, worldwide temperatures are mostly reaching record highs @ CBS

Pope Francis calls 2017 out as a "wasted" year of "wars" and "lies". Janet and I enjoyed the simple pleasure of an audience with Pope Francis in Rome this September. Not big on religion anymore, to say the least. Often left wondering if, for the Catholic church, Francis is a case of too little too late. Still, in person, even among a crowd of 37,000 in St. Peter's Square, one couldn't help but be touched by his rootsy, down to earth manner. His straightforward but touching message to always "Live", "Love", and "Hope". Francis manages to knock one out of the ecclesiastical ball park here too, in no uncertain terms. @ Reuters

KULTURE KULT INK



Congratulations: Canada's shirtless, photo bombing hunk of a PM, Justin Trudeau, take note! Federal NDP Party Leader Jagmeet Singh has been charming Canucks, hopefully including Canadien voters in Quebec, with his carefully staged, "Kardashian" style, marriage proposal. Yup! He proposed to Gurkiran Kaur, a fashion designer. The story was staged as a mediated, news bite! The appeal? They are young, hopeful and in love. It's all very familiar and everyday, in a uniquely Kanuck sorta way! Here's a love story that might help warm the old cockles of yer heart on these long, cold, winter nights @ Chat @ Vice @ CBC


Psssst! Here's a free Beatle's Abbey Road Lp Link [while it lasts] @ Youtube

Not Dead Yet: A fight's on to save the once mighty CD as streaming tops the charts in the latest music media war @ CBC

COMMENTS

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!
See below ...

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?
A careful analytical study!

Help! I Have No Arms!

Help! I Have No Arms!
Please scratch my back.

I can't find my underwear!.

I can't find my underwear!.
Have you seen them!

Weee! I can fly!

Weee! I can fly!
Look! I can crawl thru walls!

I have a headache!

I have a headache!
And a broken nose.

I have a square hole in my bum!

I have a square hole in my bum!

Here try this, it's very good!

Here try this, it's very good!
No. You have a bird face.

I have an ugly baby!

I have an ugly baby!
No I'm not!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!
OK but I need a new hand too!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

You don't look well.

You don't look well.
No. My head hurts +I have a sore chest.

Would you like a bun?

Would you like a bun?

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!
The Temple of Kukulkan!

Gotta love it!

Gotta love it!
Truly amazing!

Under Reconstruction!

Under Reconstruction!

Temples + Snakes!

Temples + Snakes!

The Snake!

The Snake!
It runs the length of the ball field!