John Gormley's Blog

With the Canadian political leaders' debate vying for attention with the U.S. vice-presidential debate -- it couldn't have been more different.

In the Joe Biden - Sarah Palin tilt, it was the seasoned Senator and charismatic Governor:  respectful, good exchanges and, as Biden put it, not a time of questioning motives or attacking people.  Evidently, whether Palin won on style or Biden on substance, American politics still has some class.

With Jack Layton, NDP leader, in studio the talk turned to the Northern Alberta oilsands. 

He confidently trotted out increased water pollution, more cases of human cancer and poisoned fish -- all the result of the oil sands projects near Ft. McMurray.

Suspicious of this -- I've seen data that says Jack is dead wrong on this -- I asked him about reclamation, where the mined soils are returned to a natural state.  He, again confidently expounded that "reclamation has never taken place at the oilsands".

Huh?

Have a look:

"... and here comes pride in the backstretch, heartache goin' to the inside", as the old country song goes.

By the time that Canadians vote on Oct 14th, there will be plenty of pride -- wounded and otherwise -- and heartache goes without saying, as for every winner in this campaign there will be a handful of those whose ambitions fell short.

While 50,000 people spent Sunday afternoon strolling through downtown Saskatoon celebrating the granddaddies of carbon-producers, the custom automobile, the We Are Many festival was limping to it's taxpayer funded conclusion on the other side of the river.

This picture was taken at 1:45pm on Sunday August 24th, from beside the mainstage -

Snapped at the same time, this was the main stage...

In response to the Taliban's recent threat-filled 'letter to the Canadian people,' a Canadian officer has a few choice words

George Petrolekas, Citizen Special
Published: Thursday, August 21, 2008

An open letter to the Taliban: