Make room Hamilton, Winnipeg wants back in the NHL

Back on June 21st of this year I strayed from my usual path of writing about politics and current events to chime in on the issue of Canada getting a 7th NHL franchise, taking something of an advocacy tone. I created an on-line petition calling on Canadian hockey fans to boycott NHL licensed merchandise until Hamilton (or another Canadian city) is awarded a team.

While the petition has only gotten 4 signatures so far, it looks like it might be getting some more attention. I received an email today from Craig Ferguson, a 48 year old gentleman who works in financial services. He's a self described hockey nut and the father of 4 teenagers. While he lives in the Hamilton area, he's very much enamoured with the thought of bringing NHL hockey back to 'The Peg'. So enamoured that he's started his own blog on the subject, Make It Eight, eh? Hockey again for Winnipeg!

Craig has written me that he's going to be publicizing the petition on makeitseven.ca's rants page, as well as through facebook.

So allow me to reiterate the idea behind the petition once again.

Canadians should tell Gary Bettman and the NHL board of governors that we Puck Loving Hosers will not be buying any NHL licensed merchandise until this country is awarded a 7th franchise. We'll still go to the games, we will keep watching our Hockey Night in Canada....but the money they get from all the sweaters, key chains, flags, boxer shorts and gawd knows what else...the $Loonies$ filling the NHL's merchandising coffers is going to take a hit unless they pull their collective heads out of Gary Bettman's behind and grant Hamilton (or another worthy Canadian city) a franchise.

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Toronto's Jobless Rate nears double digits

There's a ton of spin happening in the media of late, taking bad news and sifting through it in hopes of finding something golden amongst all the dross. Such is the case with reports that Canada's unemployment rate climbed to 8.6% in June. And for those in Toronto the number is butting right up against double digit territory at 9.6%.

The positive spin we're hearing is that while 7,400 Canadian jobs were lost in June, the number is far lower than what had been expected. Media is touting the fact that most economists were predicting job losses to number in and around 35,000 for June. Thus a "mere" 7,400 is being welcomed as a potential sign that the worst of the recession is behind us.

Its almost like stepping in a steaming pile of dog poop, and then being happy that instead of a brand new pair of shoes being soiled, its a ratty old pair of loafers.

But looking behind the numbers its easy to see the potential for continued stress on Canada's economy for the immediate and near term. While the job loss numbers have slowed at least temporarily, much of the credit can go to self-employment and the part-time workplace.

Typically those who create their own jobs, or who choose to take on part-time employment, can expect to see substantially lowered incomes. Workers with less money in their pockets are not going to be out and spending to the degree they would be if they felt secure in full-time and remunerative employment.

Picking up a newspaper or flicking on a news station, Canadians can be forgiven for thinking that our economy is poised to rebound, that housing values are going to start soaring and that good times are just around the corner. But a healthy dose of cynicism isn't a bad thing either, especially with the prospect of higher taxes, higher interest rates and declining real estate values a very real possibility in the years ahead.

Toss in all the talk of a "jobless recovery" and Canadians can be forgiven for shunning debt while seeking new ways to save their cash instead of spending it.

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Ignatieff working hard for my vote - Isaiah Berlin lecture inspiring

I haven't yet made up my mind about which party's candidate I'll be voting for when the next election rolls around, all I know at this point is that I won't be casting my lot with Stephen Harper's Conservatives.

I'm somewhat proud of the fact that my voting habits have never been dogmatic, in past provincial and federal elections I have voted for candidates representing Liberal, NDP and Conservative parties. In our most recent election I gave serious consideration to marking my X next to the Green candidate, after watching an impressive interview on CBC with Elizabeth May.

And while I don't know when we'll be heading to the polls yet again, I do know there's a very strong chance it will be within the next 6 months. As such I'm taking the time to stay informed, to soak up what I can from the various parties and about what their leaders have to say. In that regard, Michael Ignatieff's Isaiah Berlin lecture in London on July 8th certainly caught my eye.

Interestingly enough, it came to my attention via my newsfeed on Facebook, interesting because just yesterday I blogged about our federal politicians and the use of social media to deliver their message. I get plenty of notifications, but seldom do I see something with this depth of thought.

As I said, I'm not a dogmatic thinker...there are times when I think a socialist approach is best, and others when I'd prefer a more libertarian reaction. Reading the words of the official opposition leader, many resonated. Here's a snippet I believe to be worthy of special attention.

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom.

A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish.

We put freedom first but we are not libertarians. We think that individuals cannot be free without a free society. The institutions that create freedom include, but are not limited to, public education for all, free access to medical care, retirement pensions in old age, assistance for the disabled, public security in our streets and the protections afforded by a sovereign nation state.

Two themes, equality and freedom. Socialists extol the virtue of the former, conservatives embrace the latter. Ignatieff acknowledges the significance of both, but places greater emphasis on freedom. This is something I've struggled with in my own mind. While I certainly believe in equality, I sometimes think socialists take the concept too far.

As human beings we're all prone to error, whether in deeds, intentions or ideas. Should the state always step in to save citizens from their own failings? Is it the role of government to take from those who's judgement and actions have been wise, so as to elevate those who have failed to an equal level? I do believe in a measure of compassion certainly. But should that extend so far as to have everyone on the same footing regardless of each person's choices?

I'm curious to see if this posting gets any response. We live in a world of video clips and ten second sound bites. And into this microwave oven of fast fast fast society we have Michael Ignatieff's slow cooker lecture. Will enough Canadians take the time to savour what is being said, and to give it careful consideration? Or will it be mostly ignored by a populace in love with slogans and chants?

I still haven't made up my mind, but I appreciate it when the effort is made to grab my attention and to engage my mind.

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Harper a Twitter heavy hitter but Facebook more Jiggy with Iggy

Barrack Obama's winning presidential campaign demonstrated the potential for the Internet and social networking sites to connect with the electorate, bypassing more traditional media and delivering the candidate's message directly to voters. Obama had more than one million fans on facebook and an equal number following his tweets on twitter.

I thought I'd check on the status of Canada's federal leaders to see how they're stacking up to one another. But with sincere apologies to Messieurs Layton and Ducette as well as to Elizabeth May, the real heavyweights are Ignatieff and Harper.

On Twitter Stephen Harper is far ahead of his rivals with over 16,000 followers. Micheal Ignatieff lags well behind with just under 10,000. Both have alternate names for tweeting in French, with Harper's having just over 500 followers and Iggy at 178. Jack Layton isn't doing too bad comparatively speaking at over 8,600, Gilles Duceppe is just shy of 2,000 (he only tweets en Francais) and Elizabeth May has almost 4,400.

It strikes me that those numbers are actually pretty reflective of the make up of our current parliament...Green leader 'Liz May's numbers notwithstanding.

Facebook, on the other hand, provides a different picture. All the party leaders have fan or supporter pages, like followers on twitter, but on Facebook its Jack Layton with a slim advantage over Harper's 27,300 supporters. The NDP leader's numbers come in slightly higher at just over 27,800. Both are well out in front of Iggy who has a bit more than 15,300. Elizabeth May has just over 6,000, while Gilles Duceppe comes it at about 3,700.

Obviously Iggy, with the least amount of time in at the helm of his party, has a bit of catching up to do in the facebook world. But where you see a real divergence is in the Groups spawned by Ignatieff as compared to those about Harper.

Facebook shows 117 groups listed for Michael Ignatieff, and while there are a few of the requisite "Michael Ignatieff Sucks" variety, the overwhelming majority are supportive. He has a group support pages for individual provinces: BC, NS, Saskatchewan, Quebec...even my own Durham Region has a support page with 65 members.

The Prime Minister by contrast has over 500 groups listed in a search of his name...with many of them strongly Anti-Harper in tone. Canadians United Against Stephen Harper has over 21,000 members, and Stephen Harper Sucks rings in at 328. There's a group of 186 that want Mr. Harper arrested, and another group of 50 highlighting the Calgary MP's lies.

Screw Stephen Harper, Stop Stephen Harper, People Against Stephen Harper...even Stephen Harper Eats Babies.

The degree of animosity generated toward Stephen Harper is off the charts compared to any of the other leaders. Jack Layton has 259 groups, almost all supportive. And the Bloc's Giles Duceppe has 44. A search of Elizabeth May forced me to add the word Green because her name is so common, it came up with 82...again mostly supportive. There is a group entitled 'Elizabeth May has got to go', but it only has 1 member.

What does all this mean? Not much really, its probably as significant as a pocketed communion wafer. The real fun will start when the next election writ is dropped.

They all blow my twitter numbers away, canukgord is followed by a paltry 33 users, and there are no fan or supporter pages for this blogger. But if anyone wants to start a 'Gordie Canuk Sucks' page on Facebook I wouldn't be upset, that's when I'll know I've truly arrived. But please no groups saying I eat babies, that would hurt.

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