RAMBLINGS OF A RACONTEUR

ANOTHER CANADIAN HERITAGE MOMENT

A flight from Newfoundland to Toronto was delayed for 21 minutes while Heritage Minister Sheila Copps threw a tantrum and required the flight crew to relocate a disabled person who was occupying her seat. Copps stated she did not know the other passenger was disabled and there was nothing to indicate that she could have known. The Minister blamed the government regulated carrier for double booking the seat and the airline admitted that it was at fault. Who was really responsible for the animated discussion--Copps or a company that is regulated by the Ministry of Transport, headed by cabinet lightweight Davey Collenette? Give this one to the Coppster. Besides, if we blame Sheila, she might see a disabled person at a bank machine, resign, and spend half a million dollars winning a byelection.

NOOOBODY ANSWERS LIKE MEL

Speaking after the sudden death of Citytv's Colin Vaughan on New Year's Day, Mel Lastman said, "Nobody could come up with the questions that Colin Vaughan came up with. He came out with the most outrageous questions you could imagine..." So now we have a reason why Mel continually came up with crazy answers and statements: they were a result of Vaughan's questions. After all, who can answer a question like Mel can? Noooobody! With Colin gone, can we look to the mayor to make more sense in the future? Think we all know the answer to that one.

THE REAL MEANING OF POVERTY

From recent press articles, it appears that some people are more concerned with what the low income cut-off that defines poverty is than with those persons who lack the ability to provide for themselves. These professional poverty workers are more concerned with their visions of a utopian socialist state than they are about individuals who may be poverty stricken. No one has made this clearer than Laurie Rektor, executive director of the National Anti-Poverty Organization, who was quoted as saying, "Poverty is not measured only in absolute dollars--but by how much people have relative to others." Someone who doesn't have enough "absolute" dollars to pay for food and shelter must really be concerned about this theory of relativity. But, Ms. Rektor gets an "A" for honesty!

AND SPEAKING OF HONESTY

Mayor Mel laid down the law to councillors about not spending all their time electioneering and neglecting their work. It had some effect because the councillors stopped their campaign long enough to debate whether Lastman was right or wrong. The mayor indicated that he would endorse candidates who he didn't like as long as they didn't ignore their work to campaign. As an example, Lastman referred to Councillor Mike Walker, who he described as an honest and hardworking "jerk". What is Mel trying to tell us when he describes Walker as honest? That some or most other councillors are dishonest? That the "jerk" deserves to be re-elected because of his rare ability to work hard and be honest? It's hard to understand exactly what Mel meant; sure wish he'd clarify it. It's times like this when Colin Vaughan will surely be missed.

A LEADER IN THE WINGS

Revenue Canada has obtained a judgment of more than $90,000 against federal Liberal MP Larry McCormick for tax arrears. The arrears date back to the 20 years between 1973 and 1993 when the Ontario MP ran his own business. The back-bencher's excuse--poor record keeping. Poor record keeping! This guy shouldn't be in government; he should be running it. Wonder what he thinks about the rates of taxation in Canada? As long as he remains a Liberal member, we'll never know. Hang in there, Larry! Paul Martin might become Prime Minister and Canada will need a new finance minister.