885...The Headline Says It All

NDP support for Tories sign of broader strategy, analysts say (NDP-Switcharoo)

The Byrds sang Turn, Turn, Turn in 1965; Jack Layton sings Spin, Spin, Spin in 2009.

After a gazillion years of not supporting the anathema that is the Conservative Party of Canada the NDP did a nice 180 degree turn this week propping up the Stephen Harper regime so they, the Tories, can fight another day and shape Canada in the Conservative image.

The above Canadian Press headline is reflective of the both the spin "...broader strategy..." and reality "...Switcharoo...".

The broader strategy is the Dips strat to rule the country by being more practical and accessible and acceptable to Canuckistanians in the same way Premier Darrell Dexter appeals to the Nova Scotians.

The switcharoo is their selling their souls to save their thirty plus seats, a number that will go way, way, way down [Julie Van Dusen on CBC Radio Friday mentioned the magic number could be crazy, as in eight] if we hit the polls this fall.

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710...Say Hello To Hurricane Bill

The whole world is reporting that Hurricane Bill is going to hit Nova Scotia and the Maritimes at some point late in the day Sunday.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre [now there is a job for you and me, working at
The Canadian Hurricane Centre, where the question is often asked "Who's turn is it to deal?"] opines that the storm will pummel parts of the Maritimes with torrential rains and winds sometime Sunday evening.

Sea craft have been asked to hit port toute suite and Environment Canada figures that breakers could be in the three metre range.

It is one of those things, would be cool to be there but it would be terrifying to be there too.

The only thing I can guarantee is that one of the news broadcasts will lasso a reporter to a dock and make him report live while being blown and drenched by Hurricane Bill.

630...Sad News On A Gloomy Day

Donald Marshall Junior, only 55, is reported by the Cape Breton Post to have died this morning in his hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia.

The Mi'kmaq man became nationally known in 1971 after he was sent to prison for 11 years for a murder he did not commit. Marshall always maintained his innocence.

In 1982, his case was referred to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and a year later he was acquitted on all charges. An inquiry later found racism and incompetence in the police investigation had played a role in his wrongful imprisonment. Marshall was compensated with a lifetime pension of $1.5 million.

He became a lightning rod and an icon in the Mi'kmaq community and will be mourned nationwide.

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375...Stephen Harper

Future Calgary Realtor of the Year Stephen Harper says he is looking forward to working with the NDP in Nova Scotia.

Huh?

He was in Hali today and met with nova premier of New Scotland Darrell Dexter and, apparently, it was chillicious.

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242...Disenfranchised Nova Scotia

I watched CanadaAM from 7 55 this morning until 8 30 and not a bloody word about the Nova Scotia election that is being contested today.

I did have the opportunity to see a man in the centre-of-the-universe [Toronto, doncha know?] who fell into a hole get both rescued and arrested, a story about a fellow who wrote a book about the Canada-United States border south of Vancouver, find out that it is going to be chilly in Regina, Saskatchewan and a live report from Phoenix, Arizona about the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Plus the obligatory Can con music from a band, later this hour was the tease, a band that as per the Canada AM tradition, that is only a household name in their household. This morning it is Dala who, no surprise, are from Tronna.

But nothing, nothing, nothing about the historic Nova Scotia election.

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177...Government Hypocrisy

On a micro level this time.

As reported by CanWest News Service's Meagan Fitzpatrick in the Regina Leader-Post yesterday the Canadian Convenience Stores Association is none too happy with the new laws on tobacco, laws that their members are expected to enforce.

Dave Bryans, president of the association, made a sound point when he said the government should also ban the possession, consumption and purchasing of tobacco for anyone under the age of majority. As it stands now only Alberta and Nova Scotia proscribe sub 18 year olds from smoking. He goes on to make a great point, to wit: “You don't see teenagers standing outside of high schools in Canada drinking beer, because they are not allowed to. So if we're that serious about teen smoking, and retailers and our association is, then let's just get on with it so we can all move forward and run businesses instead of having one Band-Aid solution after another.”

The way it stands now, the government is hooked on tobacco as much as smokers are, hooked on the drug for the revenues it brings to their coffers.

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