Weather experts predict long, cold and snowy winter

Ideal for snowmobiling, skiing on Manitoulin

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-Grinches, deer, and anyone with a poorly insulated abode won't like it, but snowmobilers and skiers across the North will be rubbing their mitts together over a recent announcement that we're in for an old-fashioned deep freeze this year.

Environment Canada, in a seasonal forecast released on November 30, predicts chillier temperatures across the nation this snow season, except in a portion of southern Ontario, where the mercury is expected to hover in the typical range.

The only areas that can look forward to warmer-than-usual conditions are a small pocket of the Maritimes, straddling corners of Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island, and a remote swath of the High Arctic.

While no clear trends were noted for precipitation in the federal forecast, The Weather Network is anticipating above-normal precipitation for southern, central and northwestern Ontario.

Through the remainder of December and all of January, temperatures in most of the country stand to be the coldest in 15 years, according to Environment Canada.

That's music to the ears of Dennis Lendrum, president of the Rainbow Country Snowmobile Association (RCSA), the umbrella organization that includes the Manitoulin Snowdusters club. "That would be ideal," he said. "It's nice to see all this white stuff, but we have to get the frost into the ground."

Mr. Lendrum noted that some snowmobilers have already been out laying tracks in the copious powder, but the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club (OFSC) trails maintained by the RCSA remain officially closed.

"The Espanola groomer has been out, but only on the land-based trails around town," he said. "Most of our trails cross creeks and swamps, and it takes a while before they freeze."

Still, with temperatures dropping into the minus-teens (Celsius) on recent nights, Mr. Lendrum feels there's a good chance the OFSC trails could be ready to ride in a week or so, which would be fairly unusual.

"Many years ago we would have them open by Christmas," he said. "And two years ago sleds were out early-but then the snow all left at Christmas." Indeed, that holiday season of 2006/'07 was so mild that many Islanders could be found golfing and fishing-from a boat-on New Year's Day. Last year was a typical white Christmas, but a rather soggy one, too. Trails for snowmobilers-and skiers-were mostly impassable due to a Noel thaw.

RCSA volunteers are currently out packing down trails to hasten the freezing of the ground below, said Mr. Lendrum, as well as working on a new bridge, spanning Freud Creek near Whitefish Falls, which provides a key link in the D-110 trail that runs from the North Shore to Manitoulin.

"We applied three years ago (to the Ministry of Natural Resources) to do this project," said Mr. Lendrum, "and just got the work permit two weeks ago." The existing bridge over Freud Creek was never built to handle the volume of snowmobile traffic it receives, and has become a safety hazard, so the group is replacing this "old and rotten" structure with a proper timber bridge, he said.

Mr. Lendrum feels his association was shorted this year in capital-project funding from its parent organization-the RCSA received just $22,000 from a $3-million OFSC kitty-but he was able to source $5,000 at the district level for the Freud Creek bridge. "We managed to get this money together quickly so we could at least get it started," he said. "Hopefully it will be usable and safe for this season and we can finish it off in the summer."

Next year, he trusts the OFSC will kick in more capital funding for the RCSA. "We're hoping to get a new groomer for Espanola, and that's $209,000 right there," said Mr. Lendrum.

Manitoulin's groomers are "in pretty good shape," he said, so shouldn't require replacement any day soon. Nor does he expect any major infrastructure projects, or route hiccups, for the Island's trail system this year. "Everything is rolling right along on the Island," he said. "We have the same old group of diehard volunteers."

It would be nice, Mr. Lendrum admitted, if "we could get some newer, younger volunteers," as the work seems to always fall to retirees, and more hands are always welcome. "We need a real good winter to get people motivated again," he mused.

He may well get his wish. Echoing the frigid picture painted by Enviro Canada prognosticators, the Farmers Almanac is predicting that December will be 2.5 degrees chillier than average. The coming weeks, according to the almanac, should feature snow squalls and flurries, and temperatures that are "cold" to "very cold."

Still, however frosty it gets in coming weeks, Mr. Lendrum said Island sledders shouldn't expect to be crossing the channel anytime before mid-January. "No matter how cold it is, just as a general rule, we won't open the ice trails until January 15," he said.

The frustrating part of this, he said, is that snowmobiles could easily be bombing back and forth between Manitoulin and Espanola right now, if only the old railway bed was available as a sanctioned OFSC trail.

"I could be on the Island today, because the railbed is all dry ground," he said. "With the snow we've got, we could run a groomer to Manitoulin tomorrow."

Unfortunately, a deal the RCSA came close to inking with the railway's owner, Huron Central, was indefinitely shelved two years ago. Mr. Lendrum remains perplexed as to the reason, as the company would have been relieved of liability for the route, at no cost or inconvenience to itself.

"It's a shame," he said. "That's a real waste of land just sitting there, with huge economic potential, especially for Manitoulin. It's a trail you could open a month earlier, because you don't have to cross any water."

Repair of the existing highway bridge north of Whitefish Falls that spans the old train line has preserved the ability of snowmobiles-and trains, for that matter, should the line ever be revived-to pass under the road, although Mr. Lendrum said his group was never that worried about the prospect of the highway being flattened out here. "We would have just ramped up from the railbed to a level crossing," he said, noting that snowmobile routes "cross highways all the time."

Snowmobiles are already using this readymade trail between Espanola and the Island, but at their own peril, and not with the blessings of the OFSC, said Mr. Lendrum. "It's a sad thing, because it's private property, so it's not legal and it just puts the landowner in a lot of jeopardy for insurance."

There are, however, a few reasons to feel happy about this snowmobiling season. The abundance of snow already carpeting the ground would be the most obvious cause for celebration, not to mention the estimates of more snow and cold to come, but sledders might also feel good about the dip in gas prices and the flat-lining of permit fees.

"The permit price has been the same for five years," noted Mr. Lendrum. "If you got it before December 1, it was $180, and now it's $230."

Another encouraging development for travellers of the trail between Espanola and Manitoulin is the revival of the Whitefish Falls General Store, which closed for a while last spring but has reopened under new ownership.

"We always want a place to get gas and a cup of coffee," said Mr. Lendrum. "I understand it will stay open all winter, which is good news."

But as snowy and cold as it has been of late-and should remain, based on meteorological estimates-sledders shouldn't jump the gun, cautioned Mr. Lendrum.

As of Monday, none of the local trails had been given the green light. "Please be patient," the RCSA website urged. "It takes more than snow to open snowmobile trails, so while portions of many districts have early snow, there is either not enough of it or the ground underneath is not frozen hard enough to bear the weight of groomers or to freeze a packed base."

Apart from the obvious hazard posed by unfrozen wet areas, "trails across farmland cannot be opened for fear of damaging crops," the site notes.

A solid week of sub-zero temperatures is required, combined with enough fresh snow to cover stumps and facilitate grooming, before the trail system will be declared good to go.

If the weather experts are right, that day could come quite soon.

To check on the current status of snowmobile routes in the region, snowmobilers are encouraged to visit the RCSA website at www.rcsasnow.com, and click on the "trail conditions" button.

Health system indicted by worker's defence as Manitoulin Lodge

trial enters week two Crown arguing criminal negligence

in January 2007 death of resident

by Michael Erskine

GORE BAY-Testimony in the criminal negligence trial of Ted J. Mandigo continued this week, with defence lawyer P. Berk Keaney attempting to place the health system and the procedures at the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home on trial in place of his client.

Mr. Mandigo, of Gore Bay, a trained personal support worker, was on duty the day Myles Patterson, 65, was found outside of the nursing home after having been forgotten by staff while he was having a cigarette in temperatures described by witnesses as ranging between minus 16 and minus 20.

Personal support workers, registered practical nurses and administrators were called to testify as to procedures in place the day of the incident, and to recall the events leading up to Mr. Patterson being left outside, as well as the actions following his discovery outside the nursing home by a member of the staff.

The measures taken by the staff to attempt to raise Mr. Mandigo's temperature to save his life revealed both the frantic concern of those on duty, but also, under questioning by both Crown Lorraine Ottley and the defence counsel, a number of disturbing facts about the environment in the home.

According to testimony by staff and administration, Mr. Mandigo was routinely left outside without any means of alerting staff that he was finished his cigarette and ready to come in out of the cold. Although another resident who often joined him outside had a whistle supplied by his family, Mr. Mandigo had no such device. There was no buzzer installed in the smoking area, nor was there any automatic method of opening the door. A buzzer, it was revealed, has since been installed, but no automated door opener is in place to date.

Also revealed was the fact that although one member of the care team was designated in charge of taking the elderly smokers outside, it was not unusual for smokers to return inside on their own, or for another member of the care team to bring let the smokers back in. Staff members were busy providing other care while clients smoked their cigarettes outside.

Since the incident occurred, the private long-term care facility has added another staff member to the shift on which Mr. Mandigo was left outside.

During questioning, defence counsel repeatedly brought the witnesses back to their statements given to police shortly after the incident, in which they indicated relief that it had not been them who had forgotten Mr. Mandigo, and that under the regimen in place at the time it could have happened to them.

Testimony also revealed that supervisory staff questioned Mr. Mandigo and other staff on what had occurred during the incident before calling and advising the then Director of Care Karen Lehoux, so that they would be able to answer her questions. When advised of the incident, Ms. Lehoux called in the doctor.

A number of witnesses indicated that Mr. Mandigo had been taken to the "warmest" room in the facility. That room, positioned over the furnace room, was described in testimony by Leo Orford as being "over-warm." The thermostat in the room in question had little or no impact on the temperature in that room.

Other testimony by care team members made it clear that the staff was, in their opinion, overworked and undermanned, although in modifying their original statements, the staff said that they had meant that the situation exists throughout the health care system and is not specific to the situation at the Lodge.

Mr. Keaney elicited confirmation from the witnesses that in interviews with the police, a member of Jarlette Health Services, the firm which operates the Lodge, was on hand, in his words "monitoring" the interviews.

Also revealed during the testimony were a number of changes that have since been put in place to prevent any reoccurrence of the tragic events of January 16, 2007. Under questioning, witnesses agreed that the changes were "sensible" precautions.

As the interviews with staff and administrators came to a conclusion Monday afternoon, a dispute began over testimony and the addition of witnesses to speak to the poor character of the accused. The Crown asserted that the defence questioning of the witness amounted to an elicitation of a character reference for the defendant-allowing her to therefore enter evidence speaking to deficiencies in his character. The defence challenged that assertion and noted that allowing the Crown to bring in new and additional evidence would prolong the process far more than the Crown was suggesting.

The arguments on the matter and submissions of case law supporting each side's position were to be heard, if necessary, on Tuesday morning.

Craig Abotossaway new chief for AOK

by Michael Erskine

AUNDECK OMNI KANING-Craig Abotossaway has unseated incumbent Patrick Madahbee as chief of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation (AOK). Chief Abotossaway received 115 votes to the incumbent's 101 and challenger Peter (Benji) Nahwegahbow's 36 votes.

Elected to council were Rudy Daniel Corbiere (142 votes), Lawrence Scott Lee Madahbee (119 votes), Bryan Daniel Corbiere (101 votes), Michael Lorne Abotossaway (99 votes), Jason Wayne Abotossaway (97 votes), Janet Gertrude Marie Esquimaux (85 votes) and Jo-Ann Margaret Esquimaux (81 votes). These seven band councillors will join Chief Abotossaway around the band council table.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the community members of Aundeck Omni Kaning who came out to take part in their community election," said Chief Abotossaway, noting that many voters travelled long distances to exercise their franchise.

"The people of our community have chosen me as their leader and I am honoured to step forward and represent their interests."

Chief Abotossaway said he would also like to congratulate the seven band councillors who will be joining him in a seat on council and thanked the people who chose them. "I look forward to the challenges ahead feel good about moving forward positively with a good group of council," he said.

"I would also like to express gratitude to Pat Madahbee for all his years of service to our community of Aundeck Omni Kaning," continued Chief Abotossaway, "as he has served our community well over the years."

Former chief Patrick Madahbee was also gracious in accepting his defeat. "It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the good people of Aundeck Omni Kaning," he said. "I wish the new chief and council the best."

Chief Madahbee said that he felt the people and staff of AOK managed to accomplish a great deal while he was in office and he said that he wished the people of his community every success.

Addressing the larger Manitoulin community, Chief Abotossaway said: "I look forward to working together positively and maintaining relationships to move forward with the best interest of all people in mind."

The new chief and council took office immediately, and Chief Abotossaway was to be found hard at work early Monday, with plenty of meetings and consultations filling his day.

Campaign to put Leach in Hockey Hall of Fame goes national

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-You see him these days in the halls of the Little Current-Howland arena, marshalling his junior A charges onto the ice. Next year, if hundreds of fans have their way, you just might see him in the hall reserved for all-time hockey greats.

A campaign to have Isles coach and Philly Flyer legend Reggie Leach inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame is gaining momentum, with an online petition launched last week to complement a paper version that was first circulated at the Islanders' fundraising gala in September.

"It's starting to take off," said Dawn Madahbee, who helped organize the initial petition, and has since sent versions of it as far away as Europe. "We have the hard-copy one, and that kind of kick-started this online one."

The web petition was posted by Steve Taylor, a bush pilot and minor hockey coach who lives in Leach's hometown of Riverton, Manitoba. "I'd been thinking about it for a while," he said, noting that Leach returns every year to the prairie town to run a tournament colloquially dubbed "The Reg." And the former Flyer has always struck him as a perfect candidate for Hall of Fame honours.

"I heard from Dawn about what she was doing," said Mr. Taylor. "And between that and watching the NHL inductions this year, I finally said, 'Let's do it.'"

The online petition, titled "Induct Reginald Joseph Leach into the Hockey Hall of Fame," is submitted by "a proud group of citizens from Manitoba" and "the undersigned" to the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee. It cites Leach's many accomplishments as a player, including a Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP in 1975/'76 and a record for playoff goals (19) that remains unbroken to this day, as well as highlights his post-NHL efforts to give back to the game and help youngsters achieve their own dreams.

The hockey and golf tournaments organized by the NHL alumnus "provide needed equipment to (minor) teams" and help "to keep hockey fees at an affordable rate, so all kids can play," the petition notes. "He also participates in clinics to teach hockey skills to Native youth, and speaks to them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol."

Leach had his own issues with alcohol when he was younger, but has been sober since 1985, and now spends much of his time warning youngsters-especially those of Aboriginal blood, like himself-of the perils of substance abuse.

"Yes, he has demons from one point in his life," said Mr. Taylor. "But I think his character is proportional to the adversity he overcame." Rather than hide from his previous mistakes, Leach has been open about them and made it a mission to "to speak to kids and help out."

As for his NHL feats, "the numbers speak for themselves," said Mr. Taylor. Leach had two 50-goal seasons, and scored 30 or more in another six; he won a Stanley Cup and skated for a victorious Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup; and he remains the only forward (or defenceman, for that matter) to earn a Conn Smythe while playing for a Stanley runner-up.

The same year he nabbed playoff MVP honours, Leach led the NHL in the goal-scoring department with 61. Nowadays, a trophy is given out for that-it's called the Rocket Richard Trophy-but in 1976 it was just a stat.

It remains practically unheard of, though. Mr. Taylor points out that, in the years since the Rocket Richard Trophy was introduced in 1998/'99, "the only player to break 61 goals has been Alexander Ovechkin." That occurred last year, when the Russian phenom potted 65.

Leach is also in rarified company with the five goals he scored in one playoff game in 1976. "Only four other guys have done that," said Mr. Taylor. "And they're all in the Hall of Fame."

The Hall of Fame website includes a link to a "Records And Rankings" page, where various NHL feats are catalogued. And it vividly illustrates the injustice of Leach's exclusion from the hall, said Mr. Taylor, as the Flyers star makes an appearance in several categories, but unlike the others whose names appear here, he isn't an inductee.

"It's amazing," he said. "The other guys who got five goals in a playoff game all have their names highlighted in red, and if you click on them, you go straight to the Hall of Fame, because each of them is in there. Reggie's name is in black, and when you click on it, nothing happens." (Those other players, by the way, would be Darryl Sittler, Maurice Richard, Mario Lemieux, and Newsy Lalonde.)

The same is true of the most-goals-in-the-playoffs category, which Leach shares with former Oiler Jari Kurri, as each potted a post-season 19. Kurri's in the hall; Leach isn't. To add to this snub, Leach scored his 19 goals in two fewer games than the Finnish sniper.

Mr. Taylor said he doesn't begrudge the inclusion of other players in the Hall of Fame. "I'm not saying someone else shouldn't be there. But he should be in there."

In a Toronto Sun article published last week, writer Paul Friesen pointed out that one of this year's inductees, Igor Larionov, scored 644 points in 921 games. Leach put up equally (in fact, more) impressive numbers, registering 666 points in 934 games.

Both Kurri and Larionov were crafty, creative players who certainly made a mark on the NHL and deserve recognition, whatever their nationality, but for Canadians of a certain age, Leach-who earned the sobriquet of The Riverton Rifle-is a player who will invariably draw more appreciative grins and respectful nods.

"It's interesting to see the fathers when he comes to tournaments here," said Mr. Taylor. "They're like kids again too when they see him. You just have to say 'The Rifle' and people get a gleam in their eye."

That nickname, by the way, was a tribute to Leach's marksmanship with the puck, as opposed to anything to do with physical combat. He may have played on a team dubbed The Broadstreet Bullies, but he wasn't a bully himself.

"The Hall of Fame criteria mentions attributes like sportsmanship and contributions to hockey in general," noted Mr. Taylor. "To me Reggie is a perfect model of what an NHL player should be and can continue to be."

Sports pages this past week were filled with the news of a sexist comment made by Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars, an ugly remark that earned the player a six-game suspension. Leach, said Mr. Taylor, has always carried himself with dignity, and regularly expresses gratitude to those who have helped him along the way.

"I've never heard him say a negative thing about anything," said Mr. Taylor. "He still talks about the coach in Riverton who gave him skates."

The child of an Aboriginal family of limited means, Leach didn't get his first pair of skates until the age of 12, noted Mr. Taylor. When a film crew came to Riverton a few years ago to film a documentary about Leach's early days, "my son played the part of the young Reggie in the rink," he proudly noted. "Reggie used to sneak into the rink here at Riverton after it was closed to practise his shot."

Mr. Taylor isn't Aboriginal himself, but his wife is, and he visits many First Nation communities through his work as a bush pilot, so is "versed in the difficulties and obstacles that are faced by kids in these places."

He feels Leach's rise from humble roots to hockey feats, then full circle to the place he came from, helping others through fundraising and skills clinics, is a fascinating and inspiring tale. And he can't believe the NHL star hasn't yet cracked the hallowed hall where so many of his contemporaries are already enshrined.

"It's like an oversight," he said. "When I talk to people about Reggie, the one comment I get the most is: 'I can't believe he's not in the Hall of Fame already.'"

As of press time, over 800 people had added their names to Mr. Taylor's online petition, found at www.petitiononline.com/TheRifle/petion.html, and more were being added by the hour.

Comments attached to signatures range from brief shout-outs ("Go Reggie!" and "It's about time") to wistful reflections ("I remember as a young hockey player myself watching the Flyers and Reggie win the Stanley Cup in the 1974-1975 season, and admiring the sheer guts and determination of the Flyers team. Reggie was a star that many, including myself, aspired to be.")

Whether this will make an impression on the Hall of Fame selection committee, or fall on deaf ears, remains to be seen, but it's not unheard of for a member of the public to nominate a player. To become a valid submission, though, a recommendation must be endorsed by "a person who is or has been distinguished as a player, hockey executive, coach, or referee," according to a Hall of Fame representative.

Are you reading this, Bobby Clarke?

The recommendation must also be delivered to the hall by March 15.

This year's selection committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame consists of, among others, legendary coach Scotty Bowman, sportswriter Eric Duhatschek, veteran broadcaster Dick Irvin, Leafs hero Lanny McDonald, Habs star Serge Savard, and Pat Quinn, who interestingly served as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers during the late 1970s, when Leach was still a member of that team.

This year's inductees, welcomed through a ceremony in November, include players Glenn Anderson and the aforementioned Larionov, as well as veteran official Ray Scapinello.

EDITORIAL

Uncertainty the only certainty in today's political scene

As we-along with most Canadians-see it, there are two possible outcomes of the debacle the nation witnessed in Ottawa over the last two weeks.

Prime Minister Harper, in an effort to save his government from promised defeat, due to a lack of confidence by the non-Conservatives in the House of Commons, received the required agreement of the Governor General to immediately prorogue the legislature, thus ending the business of this session before it could gather steam and sending MPs back to their ridings until the House resumes again on January 26.

On January 27, Prime Minister Harper promises Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will deliver the government's budget.

And this is where we'll see one of those two likely outcomes of the couple of weeks of legislative chaos that marked the last week in November and the first week in December-a period which, quite literally, will contribute significantly to future textbooks of Canadian legislative history.

But it is a little early to amend the textbooks and re-start the printing presses, for the most significant chapter will be revealed in the budget speech late next month.

Of the two likely outcomes-and the one Prime Minister Harper and his advisors should insist on-is a bulletproof budget: one that deals with the important economic issues that vitally concern so many Canadians at this time. Mr. Flaherty has already suggested that his next budget will likely be a deficit one (one that will spend more than the government expects to receive as revenue) so a non-deficit budget would come as a surprise.

Within his deficit budget, Mr. Flaherty should, within reason, address seniors' concerns about their diminishing retirement incomes by setting into law promised changes pertaining to the Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs). For southern Ontarians, and with a weather eye on the steps the US government takes as well as the business plans of the 'Detroit Three' automakers, the budget must address the concerns of the thousands of Canadian autoworkers whose jobs are at risk (or are already gone) because of the precipitous decline of the domestic auto industry.

The budget must make promises for the other important economic sectors in Canada synchronous with the diverse regional concerns in this country.

Ideally, the budget would be devised with input from the parties on the other side of the House of Commons.

Such a budget, following a day or two of ritual grumbling by opposition parties, would be passed and the business of dealing with the unusual economic circumstances facing Canadians would begin in earnest.

The other possible outcome on budget day is far less palatable but, based on the prime minister's recent mean-spirited attack on the opposition sides during the government's ill-thought-out economic statement two weeks ago, must, sadly, also be considered as a reasonable expectation. In that economic statement, and in the guise of a serious cost-cutting measure, the government suggested it would cancel the public funding to political parties ($1.95 per vote based on the last election) that has been in effect since previous governments severely limited large contributions by businesses and unions that increasingly had the effect, or at the very least the appearance, of attempting to curry political favour.

The government, through Finance Minister Flaherty, could choose to present a largely political budget: one that the opposition parties would not only grumble about but one that they would be obliged to defeat and thus bring down the government-and, in all likelihood, bring about another election.

An election in this event is not a certainty but the Governor General might not be able to take the Liberal-NDP-Bloc QuZbZcois alliance seriously by January's end, especially if the Liberals do not find a way to quickly resolve their leadership issue which is daily being revealed as an increasingly divisive factor.

If the Conservative government chooses to present a budget that they know will be defeated then we will know they are betting on an election call.

And another election, just months after the last one, would doubtless see Canadians taking their frustration and anger out on the parties and give Mr. Harper the majority government he so desperately wants.

This last outcome certainly represents the cynical view of the political process as it is represented by the current leadership. But based on the reference to this government's mean-spirited kick at its opponents in the recent economic statement, we are forced to consider that the cynical view may indeed be the correct one in this case.

On the other hand, Mr. Harper himself will, hopefully, have lost some of his lustre among rank-and-file Tories as the government suffered a near-death experience last week on a trivial issue planted in the economic statement simply to goad the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Quebecois and, in particular, the Liberals.

Grass roots Conservative Party supporters, like those on Manitoulin Island, are not mean people given to low blows for political gain and it is hard to imagine that their live-and-let-live views would be vastly different among their counterparts anywhere in Canada.

We can only hope that common sense prevails on budget day in January and all of the people we sent to Parliament Hill are allowed to get down to the serious business for which they were elected.

Letters to the Editor

Carol Hughes has failed in first tests of public life

Area man fears AMK's MP not up to the job

To the Expositor:

While Carol Hughes can yell and scream and criticize Brent St. Denis, I am not really sure what else she is capable of doing.

Arranging to have a telephone hooked up and setting up a constituency office within a reasonable period of time are matters of organizational competence. It is my opinion that Carol Hughes has failed these most basic tests of competence. This is particularly alarming given that Carol Hughes was a secretary for a probation office for most of her adult life.

Perhaps more alarming however Carol Hughes' performance in the House of Commons is. She has asked one question relating to the name change of the minister of state responsible for FedNor and she was summarily brushed off by the government. In my opinion, her question was politically irrelevant, poorly worded and awkwardly delivered. I believe she is in well over her head.

We are heading into a critically important session of parliament and I fear Carol Hughes is simply not up to the job.

Joe Chapman

Little Current

Governor General made right decision to prorogue government

Coalition tactics go against will of Canadians

To the Expositor:

RE: "Tories lose confidence of opposition parties; coalition in offing," December 3.

I'm sure that most right-thinking Canadians will consider it to be a great relief that the Governor General arrived back in Canada last week to prorogue parliament until late January. Hopefully this breathing space will restore some common sense in federal politics, something that has been sadly lacking in the overheated political environment that Ottawa had become in the week leading up to that step.

Canadian politics had deteriorated to the point of appearing like a wild west show. It had taken on the trappings of some old spaghetti western, where an outlaw gang of banditos-led by the three amigos, Stephane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe-come swooping down out of the hills to hold up the stagecoach. But in this case, it neither gold nor money that they were trying to steal, it was political power. Their dubious goal was nothing short of trying to overturn the results of the federal election here in Canada that had taken place only six weeks before.

That such an underhanded exercise could come so close to succeeding-in fact it could still happen-in a free and democratic country anywhere in the western world in the 21st century, is nothing less than preposterous.

Thank goodness the Governor General had the gumption to step up to the plate and do what needed to be done. Michaelle Jean quite admirably played the role of the modern-day sheriff in at least restoring order. In calling a "time out" for parliament, she may not have chased the bad guys out of town for ever, but at least she put them in their corner, even if only on a temporary basis.

The Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition would have you believe that they are some modern-day version of Robin Hood, out to save the country from bad King John. I think what Canadians have to ask themselves is whether they are Robin Hoods or just hoods out robbin'. Why not err on the side of caution: Chase them back into the depths of Sherwood Forest.

The citizens of Canada should see the tactics of the opposition parties for what they truly are-a blatant power grab. That which the Liberals/NDP/Bloc could not achieve through the front door during the election campaign, they now seek to achieve through the back door.

In the Expositor's own editorial last week, you correctly pointed out that the NDP are being disingenuous about their involvement in this conspiracy to overthrow the government. The leaked tape shows clearly that the economic statement, issued by Finance Minister Flaherty during the last week of November, had little or nothing to do with it. This was just an excuse. "Black" Jack Layton, and rogue elements within his party, had planned to disrupt the government long before this.

As for the Liberals, they present us with the possibility of having Stephane Dion as our next prime minister. Wouldn't that be exciting? It would rank right up there with a visit to the dentist. Remember, this is the man who Canadians overwhelmingly rejected as a possible prime minister just a few short weeks ago.

What does the future hold for democracy in Canada if the three amigos pull off this power grab? The short answer is "Nothing too good." Voter turnout in the October 14 election was already at a record low in most places across Canada. If the Canadians who did take the trouble to vote now discover that the results of an election can be frustrated by procedural rules buried away in some musty old book-especially when combined with the skullduggery of back room deals-they probably won't bother taking the time to even put on their hat and coat and go out to vote.

The Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc probably deserve each other, but Canadians deserve better.

Ted Musgrove

president

AMK Conservative Riding Association Birch Island

Time for decades-long Liberal leadership problems to be put to bed

Remaining leadership hopefuls must come to compromise

The following letter is being circulated among Liberal grassroots ranks and the Liberal executive and caucus and is printed here at the writer's request.

To the Expositor:

The LPC caucus will be meeting Wednesday Dec 10th. Since Mr. Dion has resigned now twice, caucus will be discussing ongoing leadership of the party. Only two candidates remain - Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Rae

1. The Liberal Party of Canada has been fighting over leadership now since at least the Turner-ChrZtien years. Enough is enough.

We need both men and their followers to come together in a collegial manner and work out a compromise solution acceptable not just to them but to the grassroots of the party.

In these confused days, having joint leadership - both genuinely cooperating with each other  - and with our NDP coalition partners - would demonstrate we have left the era of personality politics behind.

More particularly - a decision that demonstrates that the caucus itself can avoid squabbling - except in such dire circumstances as those forced upon us by Mr. Flaherty's Inflammatory Economic statement - and has in fact grown up and rolled up its collective sleeves to get down to productive work would demonstrate it can do what it paid to do. 

2. I wanted to express my full and enthusiastic support for the coalition agreement with the NDP. Not only now but also going forward into the next election.

Mr. Harper has shown that he can no longer be trusted with power, but there continues to be only one party on the right and four parties to the left - which will result in vote splitting sufficient for Mr. Harper to win even when 62% of the voters reject him!

The old Reform Party and Progressive Conservatives realized they needed to merge to take power and implement their plans. How many ignominious electoral defeats and votes of confidence do we need to sit out before we wise up? Too long, and we will bleed many supporters, volunteers and funding sources. Mr. Harper has made clear his agenda to not only defeat the Liberal party of Canada but to destroy us!

Every member of our caucus is on record as supporting the coalition. The NDP has also taken significant risks by joining this coalition. To abandon it now would be both politically unwise and perceived as expedient. Speaking personally, I would find it quite difficult to be as enthusiastic about my support for the LPC if we do not remain supportive of the coalition.

I hope our party makes the right decision for our country and ourselves. I have taken the liberty of copying this e-mail to the other members of the LPC caucus.

Paul Darlaston

Kagawong