Now that the truckers and hangers-on have swarmed the capital and will soon dissipate in a cacophony of air horns, profanity and endorsements from Donald Trump, we should keep a few things in perspective. Like, numbers. There were not 50,000 trucks. Maybe it was a hundred, Or three hundred. Enough to paralyze the core of a city, for sure.
Ottawa cops say as many as 10,000 people tromped on Parliament Hill. That’s a lot. Impressive. But routinely 100,000 come to the same spot to celebrate Canada Day. And they don’t need a questionable $7 million GoFundMe campaign to do so.
Big crowds always attract morons. The BLM and January 6 people found that out. This was no exception. Some truckers parked on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and their vehicles were ordered removed. Then others danced atop the tomb. A vid was widely published. How ironic that their freedom to be in Ottawa protesting the government was paid for by the blood and death of that soldier.
Some idiots turned the statue of Terry Fox into an anti-vax, anti-medicine monument. They stuck a placard in his arms, a ball cap on his head and an inverted Canadian flag in his hand. More irony. Fox is a hero for his crusade against cancer. Lately those afraid of vaccination have helped swell hospitalizations and cancel cancer treatments for so many people.
And hundreds, perhaps thousands (as appeared on social media) stormed the Rideau Centre, Ottawa’s big downtown mall, refusing to wear masks. That was an illegal act, thus the mall was forced to close. Small shops, takeouts, restaurants and large stores were shuttered. Brave people who work through the pandemic plus entrepreneurs trying to stay afloat were impacted. Ironic that independent truckers were so willing to trash the income of others.
Meanwhile “F*ck Trudeau” flags were everywhere, underscoring the intelligence level and civility of the crowd. There were some Confederate rebel flags, also. Even a swastika or two. Like I said, there is no shortage of morons. Many of them were provided by the Max Bernier movement. Others by the Maverick Party. The leaders of both are former Stephen Harper confidants and insiders. It’s a sad and confused time for Conservatives.
The Freedom Convoy will accomplish much. It will deepen and intensify the rift on the political right. As such, it’ll repel many centrist Canadians, 90% of whom think vaccines are the best idea to stop people from dying and overwhelming hospitals. That should help elect more Liberals. The convoy will vex Erin O’Toole. The tomb dancing and Fox desecration are lasting images. He was on the wrong side of this issue. Not radical enough for the fringe. Too rad for the rest.
Are you tired of the pandemic? Yeah, me too. Everyone is. Two years later Omicron was the last straw. So many new infections that governments stopped counting or seriously testing. One vaccine dose turned into two, then three. My mask not only bends my luxurious moustache, but fogs my glasses on frosty days. Hate it. Nobody likes this stuff. And think of all the people whose elective surgeries were scratched or disease treatments suspended. Getting a vax QR code is stressful. Airplanes are trouble. The subway seems dangerous. Remote learning sucks. And your dog has to be surrendered in the vet’s parking lot. More stress. But that pales in contrast to those who have had to lock up their restaurants three times and failed shopkeepers whose dreams are now dashed.
And let’s not forget the thirty thousand dead among us. Every time I hear a cowardly and selfish protestor diminish deaths because the victims were old folks – ‘who would die anyway’ – it makes me wonder about society.
But then I remember. These are not mainstream people. Over 85% of all truckers are vaccinated. In most major cities 90% of citizens are the same. On the streets of Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa or Vancouver almost everyone is masked to protect themselves, and each other. Most people put distance between them, respect the rules and understand that nurses, public health officials, doctors, paramedics and politicians have actually been doing their best.
We’re all pandemic-whacked. Yearning for the spring and more freedom from both risk and restrictions. The collective wisdom is that we’ll get to normal faster if we yield now. A little longer. It’s close.
Over the last few days I’ve taken flak for dissing the ‘freedom’ fighters, as I have consistently stated that the only path out of this epoch is through science and medicine. Not bullying and big machines. There will always be people who believe their interests supercede yours. They place their rights above those of society. They use vile language, intimidation, noise and antisocial acts to gain attention. It’s not about liberty. It’s about them. They lack your patience and trust.
I’ve run for office. Been elected. Done my best. Nobody I have ever met – even those I disagreed with mightily – went into public life to make things worse. The opposite. The government is not our enemy. Politicians are citizens who stepped up to try. None of them, like you, asked for a pandemic. And none deserve vulgarity, profanity or threats.
Freedom does not travel on a Kenworth or a Peterbilt. It comes with respect.
Go home. Give thanks you live in a country this open and forgiving.
416 comments ↓
Amen Garth, amen.
“I don’t have time to watch the protests, I’m too busy working in the ICU, trying to save the lives of the un- vaccinated” said all the doctors and nurses working in the ICUs across Canada.
Well said, Garth. Thank you.
BANNED
As usual, the voice of reason. Well said Garth.
Under the guise of freedom, the overegulated truck drivers make a stand. For all the wrong reasons. With dubious supporters. Did the liberals create this to discredit conservatives?
Great post Garth. Nothing more to say.
1987 Buick GNX sells for $188,000 on BAT.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-buick-gnx-21/
“Many of them were provided by the Max Bernier movement. Others by the Maverick Party. The leaders of both are former Stephen Harper confidants and insiders. It’s a sad and confused time for Conservatives.”
Not much of a revelation; the conservative party (s’) have always been a spawning ground, and incubators of unthinking, erratic, short fused, reactionaries.
Sure, the left has its nutbars too, the mirage they chase is that of the “Care Bears”.
But the right, is that of “Fire and Brimstone.
Which is worse?
With $7-million in GoFundMe funds you’d think they could afford a few dozen outhouses and a podium. I guess it was easier to pee and crap all over Parliament Hill. And these groups want to run this country? No thanks.
Winning hearts and minds by desecrating national monuments and statues of national heroes, defecating on lawns, waving profanity laced flags, displaying swasticas, flying confederate flags, stealing food from a homeless soup kitchen after harassing the staff there, storming a mall forcing it to close. Bravo patriots, bravo.
… and I sure hope the City of Ottawa sends their bills into GoFundMe for reimbursement from the “Convoy” fund, rather than out of the normal city tax base.
I mean, they’ve got millions in that fund, and I’m sure that the costs to the city will be able to take a good portion of it.
I could buy in to an end to public health mandates if the movement offered some alternatives, like free n95’s, rapid antigen tests. With so many people just getting by, how do they expect more people to support them? Every supporter I asked mocked the virus and compared it to the common cold. Personally I would like to see leaders getting us to that finish line rather than scoring points.
@#11 Todd on 01.30.22 at 2:55 pm
Winning hearts and minds by desecrating national monuments and statues of national heroes, defecating on lawns, waving profanity laced flags, displaying swasticas, flying confederate flags, stealing food from a homeless soup kitchen after harassing the staff there, storming a mall forcing it to close. Bravo patriots, bravo.
–
it’s their way.
Fringe making it easy for the liberals as usual.
Thank you Garth. Well said.
As a veteran, I would welcome citizens to cheerfully dance on my grave, or, if the case may be, a monument recognizing sacrifice. That’s sort of what freedom is all about. Just share the toast.
Bravo Garth bravo
#2 Westsider
Exactly! Let us not forget all the doctors and healthcare workers who are devoting so much of their time (and sacrificing their family-life balance) to get us through this and to ensure that as many people in need of treatment are able to get it as quickly as possible.
They are the true “freedom” fighters and heroes. And they don’t hesitate to roll up their sleeves and take a little jab.
So well said, Garth. I’m grateful to have you around!
Forwarded from the previous string
#94 I don’t know
“Interest rates: they are going up. But not as high as inflation present is still a result of covid driven supply chain issues. These will work themselves out in time as covid fades.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Yes…you really don’t know.
So a lot but not all of the present inflation is still a result of covid driven supply chain issues that will work themselves out in time as covid fades you say…
You need to do some research of your own before you post comment instead of accepting as fact off the cuff statements of others who are as equally ill informed as you are.
The inflation we are experiencing right now is due to excess US spending and debt accumulation from before the pandemic spending infusions, with that former spending now turning inflationary into the early pandemic created shortages.
We haven’t even felt the effects of the inflation we will from the government largesse created from the start of the pandemic and beyond.
We will soon start working through the fallout of that debt creation with much more and higher inflation for years to come without raising interest rates significantly.
Canada’s rate of inflation equivalent to CPI adjusted rates is at 4.8 percent currently. The US rate of inflation as per the CPI rate is currently over 7 percent.
Regardless of both countries joined at the hip economically speaking, the difference in the inflation rates is that Canada has yet to experience the Trudeau effect of the unprecedented government largesse borne of the pandemic of just under $400 billion having worked through the system as of yet. The fallout will soon be felt and with an inflation rate more in line with the US soon enough with the same consequences of doing too little too late in raising interest rates.
And this doesn’t begin to touch on the effects to come as both governments continue to recklessly pile on more and more debt yet still.
It’s a sad time to be a Conservative. The best we can hope for (it seems) is that the Liberals pick a new leader who is more centrist and less divisive.
Why didn’t the mall just stay open? There was a whole lot of business peacefully walking around.
Sad spectacle indeed.
Made news here in Europa. Wrong kind.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60190452
If Stealth Omicron has reached Ottawa, Mother Nature will have her pound of flesh from the virus petrie dish that was that gathering.
Cleansing of the genome (a.k.a., Natural Selection).
Rebel News glorifying the petrie dish:
https://twitter.com/BezirganMocha/status/1487529523960766467
Italia thinks the truckers drove to Ottawa via the desert:
https://i.imgur.com/EovvWHS.png
Poor Canada. No love on this. I still love you Canada.
Thank you, Garth, for eloquently expressing how most Canadians feel about the annoying actions of the vulgar minority.
How much of this anger is fuelled by misinformation? Sweden and France both are starting psychological defence sections of their military. It’s a scary how easy other countries can use personal data algorithms to just mess with people’s heads.
Well said Garth. I hope these idiots pack up and go home soon after causing havoc to businesses and the city. What an embarrassment for the real truckers, who are quietly just working to keep Canada going.
Very measured point of view — Too bad our Prime Minister can’t muster up the courage to speak along similar lines.
A celebration of ignorance.
Over the last few days I’ve taken flak for dissing the ‘freedom’ fighters, as I have consistently stated that the only path out of this epoch is through science and medicine. Not bullying and big machines.
=====================================
‘Science’ yes; ‘scientism’ no.
The only ‘bullying’ here is by the Government.
The moment any government can force any substance into my body, I’m a slave. How can ‘normal’ people not see this as overreach.
Anyway, Brian Peckford launched a lawsuit against the Federal government. For some, the Charter still matters.
Who forced any substance into your body? Drama queen. – Garth
Thank you Garth. So true. These people don’t want freedom. They have freedom. They want lawlessness!
And speaking of exhaustion, I’m tired of the extremists of both left & right variety having their voices amplified by social media. Life was much simpler pre-internet, when people yelled at their ceilings (says the ironically angst-filled Millennial…)
When are we getting those stupid $40K housing accounts again?
Very well said, Garth!
“I have consistently stated that the only path out of this epoch is through science and medicine. Not bullying and big machines. There will always be people who believe their interests supercede yours. They place their rights above those of society. They use vile language, intimidation, noise and antisocial acts to gain attention. It’s not about liberty. It’s about them. They lack your patience and trust.”
You sir are a hypocrite. Censorship, propaganda and bullying are the tools of cowards and tyrants, and you have acted as an extension of the corrupt state from day 1.
The “path out of this” is and was always through open and reasoned debate between credible members of the opposing factions, not through suppression, insult and threat.
Disallowing debate/opposition does not make you right,
it just means that you have become what history has repeatedly warned us of.
Censorship of valid counterpoints is simply lying by omission, but I’m sure that none of the blog beeatches have noticed any of that going on.
Additionally, the individual’s rights should supersede those of the majority when the majority is dangerously incorrect in its beliefs/assertions.
Honestly they shouldn’t even have made the blog today (more attention) but it was a good read.
Now show me THE MONEY!!!
Those using inappropriate language and doing
inappropriate things have no shame they are old enough to know better. Our family is thankful, great full and appreciate being born in CANADA and the opportunities
and the rights and freedoms we have.
As they say after TWO years into this nonsense with RECORD Unbelievable government spending – bankrupting the country – the “Hospital capacity” IS NOT my problem
If I really need something I’m MedVac’ing on a flight down to Mexico. No expense spared.
As noted in 2020 EVERY system designed to protect us has been turned against us :(
I suspect that the wide-spread demonstrations across Canada this weekend have more to do with years of top-down, often contradictory mandates by our virtue-posturing prime minister than opposition to vaccines. Most truckers are already vaccinated, and up to just recently were classified as essential. Trudeau’s intemperate remarks about a “fringe minority” with “unacceptable views” align with Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” and will come back to haunt him.
A lot of people have lost hope.
It’s a peaceful protest, don’t judge if you haven’t taken a look for yourself. Unbiased, no stereotyping, those are normal people, craving to live a normal life.
It’s too easy to pass judgements when sitting comfy in front of the computer watching the “news”.
Thank buddha these folks are definitely a small minority and not vast majority.. and thank you for continuing to remind us all of that.
Always needed.
You’re bang on Garth. So many have sacrificed and lost much more than these losers have. I wish the media had ignored them.
Love this post.
Needs to be shared widely.
Thank you, Garth
Im so glad complacent Canadians are finally protesting the outrageous housing bubble in this country.
Can someone please tell the Karen Convoy where the Bank of Canada is located. They seem to be protesting in the wrong location.
All great points Garth, thanks for bringing home the facts again and again.
However, I won’t fully absolve certain leaders for their part in the making of this mess. When I heard that they were imposing this mandate on the truckers this late in the game when we were already having so many supply-chain issues and absurd inflation, I couldn’t believe it. Especially since so many local governments had backed down on imposing such mandates on teachers, nurses and liquor store employees. And if, like you say, 85% of truckers are vaxxed and mostly alone in their trucks anyways, why was imposing such a mandate necessary?
And duh (as expected), almost immediately after the mandate was announced, grocery stores in many parts of the country started running out of more produce and other goods. So the people, especially those in Northern and rural communities, started to panic. I believe this is why and where Erin O’Toole and the Conservatives jumped in. Over the following days, I watched citizens from around the country posting pictures of empty store shelves on Twitter, only to be mocked by certain arrogant Liberals like Alex Wellstead, who laughed in their faces and posted photos of his fully-stocked Ottawa grocery stores as supposed proof that supply shortages weren’t happening.
Don’t get me wrong, I too am ashamed and dismayed at this so-called Free-Dumb movement, but I’m also not proud of those in the ruling elite who egged them on for their own political benefit. What other outcome did they expect would arise from such an ill-timed policy?
Shameful, just shameful. All of it. And who exactly is going to bear the brunt of all this rising tension and its fallout? As always, the doctors and nurses who need us to maintain order while they burn all their candles trying to see us out of this pandemic. And of course, the most vulnerable in society who were already having a hard time making ends meet in these inflationary times.
If you ask me, politics in this country is becoming too much of a strategic catfight between the elites, many of whom seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to be serving the best interests of all their citizens as opposed to igniting and dividing them.
I truly believe we are getting close to the end of this pandemic, but how fast we get there is going to depend on how willing we are as a collective to cooperate and support each other through it. But pouring gasoline on fires is definitely not going to help put them out.
Time to start charging the unvaxxed for their hospital stays. Free to choose to not get the jab …. But pay up if you run into issues
#12 ‘Another’ – what an excellent idea! As I understand it, the GoFundMe stash of cash in question was created to cover the costs of the protest. Seems fair to bill it for the costs of all the public service employees – police, sanitation, EMS etc. that performed protest related services such as crowd control, traffic control, cleanup plus any medical services that were a result of said protest. Compensation for those businesses who had to shut down due to the protesters actions should be included.
A lot of people have lost hope.
It’s a peaceful protest, don’t judge if you haven’t taken a look for yourself. Unbiased, no stereotyping, those are normal people, craving to live a normal life.
It’s too easy to pass judgements when sitting comfy in front of the computer watching the “news”.
What baffles me is that Justin Trudeau is hiding when no one made any threats to his personal safety, they wanted to talk about actions he took.
He just craves attention, this is not about him and no one really cares about his “need to self-isolate” when tested negative for COVID and all his drama tactics he keeps pulling.
He doesn’t get people had ENOUGH of him!
No national leader would be allowed by national security to address a mob. No progress. No consequence. Only more conflict and risk. It has nothing to do with courage and everything to do with common sense. Get some. – Garth
DOUBLE VAXXED WHY DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK?
It’s been a scam from the start. Democracy is a sham.
Brilliant post, Garth.
“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence” – Charles Bukowski
I must have missed the notification that statues of dead white Canadians had become sacrosanct again. Old guy “old thinking”. Also had just come around to believing that flags on Parliament Hill don’t mean nothing. Especially the big ones that fly on top of the House of Commons. Mind you, tense for any keyboard deplorables watching hillbillies, stubble jumpers & Ontario wannabees on the front lines. A motley crew. I’ve had a few of them. The trick is to be satisfied with getting as much as is possible. out of them. And sometimes that ain’t much. Imagine if lil potato had done a Chretien & come out with his cowboys. Gone into the crowd, punched a barking westerner right on the beak. Contacted covid for the “boys”. He would have been PM for another 15 years.Now he’s known to the rest of the world as Coward 19. Just another Saddam, hiding in a hidey hole.
Thanks for summing it all up concisely. Sad time for us…
Deaths have reached the peak from 2020 where 0% were vaccinated or masked. Now most of Canada (92%) are triple masked and triple boosted and still blaming the hospital capacity on unvaccinated? This is silly. And again stereotyping the truckers. Meanwhile the government is making the middle class join the poor class and funding armoury for Saudi to bomb Yemen. We are shutting off oil to pivot to clean energy which does not exist yet so now we have to buy from Saudi who drills dirty oil. We have never helped hospitals before with capacity as everyone seems to be sick in Canada with cancer heart issues diabetes et al. Yet more fast foods open, 5G radiation towers go up and gyms lockdown. We don’t punish drunk drivers that kill they are back on the road years later. MSM focuses on 1% of protestors who are idiots defacing statues (yet all the other statues that were vandalized was ok due to wokeness). Lack of funding to making people healthy and hospital staff is the core issue for nurses being exhausted. MSM scaring everyone over Covid is too as everyone rushed to the hospital at the sign of a sore throat. Instead we funded stock markets and houses with money printing. Before stereotyping these protestors maybe think in big picture. Thank you.
Garth,
This blog post explains to me why conservatives in this country have been losing every fight for the last 50 years.
As I drove down Highway 1, yesterday, passing lots of flag-waving folks on bridges in Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, I pondered what I could learn from the experience.
We have all lost freedoms during the pandemic. The message that I got was that we need to remain vigilant to ensure that these losses don’t become permanent.
#40 Mark on 01.30.22 at 3:49 pm
Time to start charging the unvaxxed for their hospital stays. Free to choose to not get the jab …. But pay up if you run into issues
———————————–
Agreed.
And you as well if you’ve ever smoked, taken illicit drugs, abused alcohol, are overweight, ride a motorcycle, go snowmobiling, go sky diving, had unprotected sex, ignored your blood sugar and blood pressure readings…well you get the idea.
Let them parade around with those flags, now you know who they are, it is worse to leave it underground where it festers and grows unchecked.
They also harassed the Shepherds of Good Hope soup kitchen staff:
https://twitter.com/sghottawa/status/1487630726111576068
Blinded by their hatred of Canadian democracy, they forgot about food.
Not the sharpest tool….
#44 Mark
No, it is not time for that. Give your head ashake. YOU and attitudes like yours are what is pouring fuel on the fire.
[–]buriedxawake 283 points 56 minutes ago
This weekend reaffirmed to me why I will never vote conservative for the rest of my time on this silly planet
This sentiment is appearing across all social media.
https://www.sghottawa.com/donate/
A link to the soup kitchen these fine folks managed to bully and shut down last night.
Lastly, this steerage section of fine, sturdy conservative men and women went batshit nuts last summer when Garth’s flag was desecrated and stolen from his building yet there seems to a significant amount of complacency, even advocacy, about this much larger, much more hurtful convoy thing.
Some of us need to reflect on that sort of situational, shifting ethics.
Great post today!
Thank you.
I have come to the conclusion that the philosophy that drives the anti-maskers, anti-vaxers can be summed up in the expression ‘What’s in it for me’.
It is notable that they have done zero to try and protect the medically vulnerable such as the immunocompromised (of any age), or the frail elderly.
They COULD have respected physical distancing to reduce the spread of the aerosols, they COULD have worked towards improving ventilation in public buildings, they COULD have followed the golden rule. But would have required a minuscule sacrifice on their part and god forbid there isn’t something in it for them.
A few hundred crazy people did some crazy stuff today.
Could apply to just about anywhere, really.
#8 Penny Henny
Yikes! Nice car, lo miles, lots of PW too. Wonder if the jacket comes with it?
Maybe I’ll just put a turbo on my Sunfire and paint it black ha ha…tho I did float the idea of dropping 25-30K on a decent Turbo Regal with the wife this am, and didn’t get much of a response…
Actually, it was kinda similar to the response I got about buying a decent Orr rookie card last year come to think of it…hmmmm
Good thing I can always sleep in the Suburban for a few nites!
These people are working class ordinary people just trying to make their point of view and struggles known to the leaders and rest of the nation. They’ll always get more respect from me than the socialist woke garbage pushers from CBC and the rest.
This blog pushes the same arrogant elite contemptuous crap as the mainstream media. What’s the point?
The right-wing Reform Party stole the name ‘Conservatives” by duping a certain feckless Peter. Many of the people that voted for the Progressive Conservative Party have drifted over to the Liberals. The Conservative Party doesn’t know what it stands for now. They may need another autocrat like Stephen Harper to herd the cats.
I could not agree more. Maybe we should give priority in hospitals to people who are vaccinated, regardless of their ailment. This way the folks who have been denied critical surgeries or treatments would be prioritized over those who refuse to vaccinate. Send them to the end of the line, the same way cancer patients have been for two years now, through no fault of their own.
Two thumbs up Garth. Well said.
The self righteousness of so many blog dogs is a thing of wonder to behold.
This has brought out the dumbos on both sides.
In droves.
It’s damn depressing. My father fought in WWll and Korea and was a Peace Keeper. Fighting for rights and freedom. It sickens me. I guess we can thank social media for this bike.
@Mark
I agree! We should also charge those who drink, smoke, eat fast food, who fail to get regular exercises, who engage in risky activities like skiing, snowboarding, who do risky jobs like forestry, mining and fishing!!
Mark,
The main problem with our hospitals is that the system is highly inefficient. It has been like this for years.
Instead of spending a few billions to fix it, the politicians have spent hundreds of billions to push up house prices (their way of fighting a pandemic).
The unvaxxed are forced into over-paying for this system like everyone else. Charge them for hospitalization if you want, but then substract from their taxes the part that goes to healthcare.
Thanks for the blog Garth
Glad someone stands up and voices an opinion, keep going!
I got in an argument with an anti vax person
I said your problem is you don’t listen to other opinions if they differ from yourself therefore you are doomed to believe one side of the story. I listen to you, yes made some good points even though some of it was misinformation. But I listen and acknowledge a point or two, But they refused to listen to me.
I read an interesting article that we are becoming more tribal….
In the old days we would wear our teams colours and cheer for our team.
Now as we become more tribal we now angry that your not on our side and become righteous in rights and stump on mine.
So what’s the answer Garth?
Hillary Clinton was right along about these people. And it’s come back to haunt us.
Good post today, Garth. Tip of the hat.
# 8 Penny Henny
Nice looking GNX , But the price paid , i dont know.
The price some ( older ) people pay for 1960`s muscle cars is obscene as seen on Barrett Jackson Auctions.
They wont be able to give these relics away in 20 years when the owners expire and their estates are being dissolved .
My millennial kids have zero interest in a restored 1969
Z28 .
I like looking at them but i wouldnt drop 6 figures for a trailer queen.
The Liberals missed a golden opportunity to put snipers on the roof of parliament, and shoot vaccination darts complete with microchips into the crowd.
Maybe they’ll get ‘em at the truck wash…
M47BC
@#47 FailingSystems
See, We’ve been in a pandemic now for 2 years. You’d have thought in that time you’d have learned why we wear masks, why we get vaccinated, what vaccines do, etc etc.
I find it personally quite shocking that even after all this time, people like yourself are still unable to grasp some quite simple concepts.
I did toy with the idea of trying to explain it to you here. But I’m not able to draw pictures on this site, and I’m not sure I can use words small enough.
If you still cant grasp really simple ideas after all this time, then I’m not sure anyone would be capable of explaining it to you. Maybe Elmo?
Well said Sir! Great post.
Btw. Try wearing glasses on the edge of your nose so that the air you breathe out don’t touch the glasses. No more foggy glasses. The farther the glass from the mask’s opening the better it works. Just a tip.
Never trust government.
Have you considered Afghanistan, then? – Garth
Why, why, why are the powers at be ignoring natural immunity via prior infection? Various studies show it is more effective against variants than being double vaxxed. Why are they so intent on vaccinating everyone, including those with natural immunity? Nobody has answered this question. This issue will continued to be ignored. Why? Why is there no exemption for those that have had a prior infection? Why is there a constant drumbeat here and everywhere that the only way out of this pandemic is vaccinations, while natural immunity is ignored? As more people get infected and recover, this question will become louder, but the powers at be will continue to ignore it.
Some of your best writing Garth. You’re a good ‘un.
Reflects some conversations had this weekend with my dipper friends by the wood stove in a snowy cabin. There is still hope and common ground for unity.
I second others’ hope that this essay finds its way to a broad audience.
I wonder what would be your viewpoint if your business had been repeatedly locked down by bureaucrats and you had lost it after years of investment and hard work…. Or if you had lost your job, or had a lonely teenager attempting suicide. Etc…
Stop being so arrogant and predictable, these people are not kids sent by their teachers after some climate brainwash! They are real people and many are really struggling.
HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!HONK! HONK! HONK!
They have the right to express their opinion. Like any large demonstration, this one is no exception in attracting a small number of extremists from far left to far right.
However, the media covering the event, focused only on those negative ones. CBC even suggested that the event was organized by Russian agents. How pathetic, but by reading your comments, it looks like it worked.
Are they dumb for not taking vaccines? Probably, but that is their choice and we should respect it.
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-should-justin-trudeau-be-deciding-what-views-are-acceptable
Well Garth. I agree with Rex Murphy on this one and beautifully written. Justin is the one dividing the country and who is he to be telling us what acceptable and unacceptable views are.? Did we annoint him King..I guess he believes that. When you grow up on Sussex Drive and have the famous last name then I imagine you get a bit full of yourself. Its a shame many Canadians cant see him for what he is.
The media, you and many are trying their hardest to demonize these people who have the right to protest and frankly represent a lot more people than you think. When you are told you will lose your job if you dont take an experimental vaccine..well that to me is being forced..or an analogy I like..as if someone if pointing a gun at your head. Its a very aggressive act and you are threatening taking away someones livelihood..and lets not forget all the small business owners this government has thrown under the bus. If those are not reason enough for people to demand enough is enough then I dont know what is.
When the PM and many other prominent people start spewing out lies about how this is about protecting our children when any statistic out there shows there is effectively near zero risk to kids from COVID..well its time for people to stand up and make themselves heard.
I am sure many in Ottawa dont like the loud noises and crowds from this but this cause is too important. The mainstream media and the Liberal/NDP party and even you Garth are trying really hard to paint this group as racist, misogynist, imbeciles but in the end the vast majority of them are honest hard working and decent Canadians who are FED up with government mandates that have and are effectively ruining many peoples lives and livelihoods.
Garth, don’t look at the vax rates, look at the polls. 28-30% of Canadians don’t support vaccine mandates – many of these “unacceptable” are vaccinated. Many of them believe in science (but not in what Trudeau is calling a science, for his purposes).
Almost 1/3 of a country. This is not an amount you can dismiss as a “fringe minority”
Yet nobody protests, when our leaders and media stoke hatred against Russia. And salivate for war, over a corrupt basket case called Ukraine.
73 Slim on 01.30.22 at 4:29 pm
Hillary Clinton was right along about these people. And it’s come back to haunt us.
_–+———–
You sir are epitomizing the absolute idiocy of people who don’t understand how a complex supply chain works…
Nothing to disagree with there. O’Toole tried to straddle both sides right from the start, he will never be Prime Minister. Sadly we will probably end up with someone along the lines of Poilievre as head of the Conservatives and have Liberals in power for a lot longer.
Pathetic signs, flags and symbols. They desecrated the monuments and statues and our flag with disgusting symbols over it. Sure not all of them but enough of them did. Much of the speech was co-opted from the U.S./Trump nonsense with Trudeau replacing Biden. All the don’t tread on me crap. It’s a farce, a political farce with delusional demands. I don’t know how much longer it will last many have left already, some of them came with loaded trailers leading me to think they never intended to be there after today. Stupid talk about politics & vaccine. One of them they talked repeated the tracking nonsense for why he wouldn’t get it. What do they think is so important about them that someone would want to track them? The vax doesn’t do it anyhow.
One more thing being vaccinated like I am I opened my silverware drawer and all of it came out and stuck to my face, weird thing is it’s all the disposable plastic kind.
#62 stage1dave on 01.30.22 at 4:11 pm
#8 Penny Henny
Yikes! Nice car, lo miles, lots of PW too.
//////////////
Beautiful though isn’t it.
That design has aged remarkably well.
#43
If you ask me, politics in this country is becoming too much of a strategic catfight between the elites, many of whom seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to be serving the best interests of all their citizens as opposed to igniting and dividing them.
I truly believe we are getting close to the end of this pandemic, but how fast we get there is going to depend on how willing we are as a collective to cooperate and support each other through it. But pouring gasoline on fires is definitely not going to help put them out.
——–
Cici’s post has saved me the trouble from writing anything this afternoon. It is pretty much exactly how I see it. T2 essentially decided to light a match and holds resolute on the need to impose a vaccine mandate on truckers, when at this late stage there is no clear scientific need to do so. The motion to enact this should have been tabled and revisited at a later date if a new more lethal variant originates outside Canada.
In the next few months when the omicron wave is largely behind us, Govt’s better have a clear understanding that they are going to need to unravel in a timely way the extra restrictions that have been imposed over the past few months.
I’ve run for office. Been elected. Done my best. Nobody I have ever met – even those I disagreed with mightily – went into public life to make things worse. The opposite. The government is not our enemy. Politicians are citizens who stepped up to try. None of them, like you, asked for a pandemic. And none deserve vulgarity, profanity or threats.
These moro.n politicians HAVE DESTROYED SOCIETY ON PURPOSE AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THEM AFTER TWO YEARS OF PLANETARY CRE.TINISM
YOU ARE DELUDED, THIS IS JUST THE APPETIZER, I HAVE BEEN IN THE EASTERN BLOCK IN 1989-1990.
@#63 Pbrasseur on 01.30.22 at 4:13 pm
These people are working class ordinary people just trying to make their point of view and struggles known to the leaders and rest of the nation.
–
nah, those folks are the lowest of the low.
stop insulting the working class with your dreadful comparison
#16 Sail Away on 01.30.22 at 3:02 pm
As a veteran, I would welcome citizens to cheerfully dance on my grave, or, if the case may be, a monument recognizing sacrifice. That’s sort of what freedom is all about. Just share the toast.
—————-
Sailo.
Please be specific.
What did you sacrifice?
Did you free people enslaved by evil dictators?
Or are you bragging as usual?
I was there yesterday. I did not see any confederated or nazi flag. Not saying it did not happen but you are selecting the 0.1% of the demonstrators. I saw many families that’s for sure.
I am full vaxxed and I support this convoy. This is not 85% vs 15% you would like us to believe.
DELETED
Vaxxed? Go take an aids test & get back to us.
#80 Jim on 01.30.22 at 4:51 pm
Why, why, why are the powers at be ignoring natural immunity via prior infection? Various studies show it is more effective against variants than being double vaxxed. Why are they so intent on vaccinating everyone, including those with natural immunity? Nobody has answered this question. This issue will continued to be ignored. Why? Why is there no exemption for those that have had a prior infection? Why is there a constant drumbeat here and everywhere that the only way out of this pandemic is vaccinations, while natural immunity is ignored? As more people get infected and recover, this question will become louder, but the powers at be will continue to ignore it.
—————————-
Yes but what do these people know?
https://www-euronews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.euronews.com/next/amp/2022/01/20/natural-immunity-against-covid-lowered-risk-more-than-vaccines-against-delta-variant-new-s?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a8&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16435746028106&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2Fnext%2F2022%2F01%2F20%2Fnatural-immunity-against-covid-lowered-risk-more-than-vaccines-against-delta-variant-new-s
I was not surprised that the BOC didn’t raise interest rates. They will not be raising them for a long time. Maybe before the decade ends. BTW, Communist blm buys 8M Toronto mansion. Former hdqtrs of the Canadian commie party. (They had a nice meeting place).
https://www.newstbt.com/post/blm-canada-buys-8-million-toronto-mansion-immediately-draws-controversy
Rember the companies and the major leagues sports (incl. the NHL) donated to this violent group). Have a good week all of you.
There ARE curesM not on your current search browser though. Do. Not. Lose. Hope.
Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister of Canada)
PM Justin Trudeau’s mother, brother, spouse, and Finance Minister Bill Morneau collectively received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the WE Charity in financial payments.
Justin Trudeau attempted to give nearly a $1 Billion sole-sourced contract, before public backlash cancelled the deal.
Justin Trudeau has a troubled history:
Found guilty TWICE of breaking ethics laws [Washington Post]
Accepted a vacation from a billionaire who wanted a $50 million grant from the Prime Minister [New York Times]
Removed Jody Wilson-Raybould as Attorney General when she would not interfere in an independent prosecution [BBC News]
Wore “black face” on at least three separate occasions [Global News]
If any other Canadian citizen in public office, had their spouse or immediate family member paid in such a manner, there would be a criminal investigation.
Furthermore, we demand the RCMP fully investigate their actions and hold them accountable to the fullest extend of the law.
I spend some time on the Hill on Saturday morning. It was interesting. Lots of people from all sorts of backgrounds, from all across the country. Families with kids. Lots of smiling people. People were happy to be there, happy to be around each other, without masks in the sun. Freedom of association is a beautiful thing.
I’m not sure if this will post (drone footage of the Hill):
https://www.tiktok.com/@charliesfurmom/video/7058756770533035270
Ten thousand people. No masks. In a pandemic. And you are bragging about it. Garth
#71 Soviet Capitalist on 01.30.22 at 4:22 pm
Mark,
The main problem with our hospitals is that the system is highly inefficient. It has been like this for years.
Instead of spending a few billions to fix it, the politicians have spent hundreds of billions to push up house prices (their way of fighting a pandemic).
The unvaxxed are forced into over-paying for this system like everyone else. Charge them for hospitalization if you want, but then substract from their taxes the part that goes to healthcare.
—————-
It’s always funny when people complain about the inefficient bureaucracy and then come up with solutions that make it even more inefficient.
#83
I was there yesterday. I did not see any confederated or nazi flag. Not saying it did not happen but you are selecting the 0.1% of the demonstrators. I saw many families that’s for sure.
I am full vaxxed and I support this convoy. This is not 85% vs 15% you would like us to believe.
Of course the mainstream media and the Libs are going to make it sound like all of these people are nutcases and lunatics and fringe people. The vast vast majority are normal Canadians but if we accept that truth then Justins statement falls totally flat..the mainstream media will have to start taking this seriously..and so on.
CBC is government funded so maybe there is a bias there or maybe it goes against their pro mandate coverage over the past 2 years. From day 1 the CBC has downplayed this convoy, tried to ignore it, tried to demonize the protesters and so far none of it is working very well. So what will their next tactic be. I guess the Libs must be in panic mode on the phone to their media contacts to slander these protesters even more.
The solid voice of reason and civility…thanks for all that you do Garth. I appreciate your efforts to speak the truth and shut down disinformation.
Do yourselves a favour and Educate yourselves………watch this then decide….
https://twitter.com/TheRealKeean/status/1487857084578287621
I like the way the ‘freedom’ people banned certain media from their press conference. Says a lot. – Garth
I was down visiting family in Gatineau and had to go through DT Ottawa. From what I saw, it was a respectful protest.
I’m proud that those who have a different POV – and data to back it up – are standing up for themselves.
I’m fully vaxxed and support others’ beliefs. The health experts have been best-guessing (droplets/aerosol, no mask/mask, immunity/less sick, heard immunity 70%, etc). I would rather hear, “We just don’t know enough”.
If half the people in the hospital have been vaccinated, will we tax them too for delaying surgeries?
If the vaxxed can get Covid again, and spread it, what’s the point of punishing the unvaccinated?
It’s going off the rails and rational people are waking up. That’s the movement. Thank you truckers for having the guts. What I saw first-hand and what’s on the news is not an accurate picture of Canadian sentiment.
But maybe my POV is “unacceptable” too?
….Who forced any substance into your body?
***********
Government with Pfizer!
Garth, you know a lot of those who aren’t vaccinated could and would have (I think 25% of the unvaccinated at least) if they had a choice. At the beginning of vaccination, there were AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Now everywhere ONLY PFIZER even in special vaccinating centers. I checked couple pharmacies by myself for somebody.
I was talking with a friend of mine a week ago who went to the Czech Republic to visit his parents. There, in any pharmacy, you can be vaccinated with any vaccine approved by WHO – Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and even Chinese vaccine. Here, the corrupt government now is forcibly forced to vaccinate only with an experimental vaccine Pfizer.
This is where the protest grows when people have no choice. Country bought Pfizer. WHY?
Autonomous Battery Semi Trucks will be cheaper than rail on a $/mile basis. They will be able to “platoon” together on the highway, so the air resistance will be similar to that of rail cars . They will be able to deliver quicker also because each truck can peel out of the platoon when their exit comes up, and then drives straight to the destination point. No double /triple handling to off load from rail cars. An 800 mi range per charge is not unreasonable for a future Semi. Elon Musk’s focus on the Tesla Bot at the earnings call means he sees the Tesla Vehicle model ramp up in production and FSD is baked into Tesla’s future. It is just a question of following the plan and getting Texas, Berlin , Shanghai and Freamont done. He has an excellent team of engineeers that will make that happen for him. Elon is now focused on the next hard engineering problem. These arrogant truckers best enjoy their time in the sun, they are accelerating autonomous trucking.
Ten thousand people. No masks. In a pandemic. And you are bragging about it. Garth
———————
68 million people in England no longer required to wear them. What’s their deal?
Hats off to you Garth, don’t know who I’ll vote for next time around but it won’t be the Con’s unless you are the leader.
Well written Garth. Thanks
#75 tbone on 01.30.22 at 4:40 pm
# 8 Penny Henny
Nice looking GNX , But the price paid , i dont know.
The price some ( older ) people pay for 1960`s muscle cars is obscene as seen on Barrett Jackson Auctions.
They wont be able to give these relics away in 20 years when the owners expire and their estates are being dissolved .
My millennial kids have zero interest in a restored 1969
Z28 .
I like looking at them but i wouldnt drop 6 figures for a trailer queen.
————
Neither do my Gen Z kids. I wonder how long the collector car thing will last? My kids don’t care about ANY car, and getting their drivers license was just a necessary formality instead of the ticket to freedom it was for me.
My kids just don’t care about “stuff” at all it seems. They almost never spend any money, and when they do, it’s cheap like a game of paintball, a video game, going out with buds for dinner. All less than 50.00.
That was a nicely written article. I appreciate your empathy
The fringe comprises lonely and disillusioned people who’d rather read a checkout tabloid than any article about scientific achievements.
One of your best posts, thank you, Garth.
Was there any evidence that there were no undercover RCMP agents yesterday? Kinda odd to show up alone with a na*i flag all by yourself in a truck convoy.
The CBC suggested Russia was responsible for the Trucker Convoy just after Elon Musk wrote that Canadian Truckers Rule. And then there was that guy who showed up wearing a mask and carrying a confederate flag shortly after Trudeau went missing.
I don’t know what to believe anymore.
Of course ‘the CBC’ did not suggest that. Grow up. – Garth
Just think about our democracy. The person pictured jumping on the tomb of the unknown soldier, on Election Day can cancel your vote. His/her vote is equal to yours.
Ten thousand people. No masks. In a pandemic. And you are bragging about it. Garth
—
Outside. You forgot that important part.
Not bragging at all. Canadians don’t brag unless it’s about hockey. Just stating the facts as I observed them.
#47 FailingSystems on 01.30.22 at 3:54 pm
DOUBLE VAXXED WHY DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK?
It’s been a scam from the start. Democracy is a sham.
———
No one is forcing you to stay. You can get out now. Please do. We implore you.
And no, we won’t miss you. Who were you again?
That’s right. Nobody.
Exactly…seems to be a perfect snapshot of what went down this weekend …I’ve had people tell me I’m not seeing the big picture…I feel I’m seeing all too clearly.
Ponzius Pilatus,
Can you, please, elaborate?
Are you suggesting I have provided a solution that is less efficient than the existing system? I don’t recall specifying one.
Are you suggesting that the existing healthcare system (I am referring to the one operated in Ontario) is efficient? Was it not the case there were multi-hours waiting periods in the emergency rooms even before the pandemic started? Was it not the case that the government printed hundreds of billions devaluing the currency and then capped the wage increase for nurses at 1%? Are you suggesting that is better for them?
#102 JP Brichta on 01.30.22 at 5:30 pm
I spend some time on the Hill on Saturday morning. It was interesting. Lots of people from all sorts of backgrounds, from all across the country. Families with kids. Lots of smiling people. People were happy to be there, happy to be around each other, without masks in the sun. Freedom of association is a beautiful thing.
I’m not sure if this will post (drone footage of the Hill):
https://www.tiktok.com/@charliesfurmom/video/7058756770533035270
Ten thousand people. No masks. In a pandemic. And you are bragging about it. Garth
———
You can fly a drone in the Capital Centre that close to Parliament Hill?
Interesting.
I foresee new legislation being introduced to deal with that.
Hope the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission itemize all the expenses to clean that mess up including the closing of the mall and employee lost pay. Then have the lawyers send the bill to the organizers, take it out of the $7-million.
Why should the City of Ottawa have to pay for it?
#75 tbone on 01.30.22 at 4:40 pm
My millennial kids have zero interest in a restored 1969
Z28 .
______________________________
Did they ever see one go through an intersection with the front wheels hanging in the air after some clutch manipulation bounce though?
I’d pay to re-live watching that at 16.
Most revealing of all about all this to me is the disgusting and biased media coverage, even the once conservative NP is at it.
The Liberals (in the American sense of the word) totally owns Canadian medias, so obvious it’s painful to watch. This country is so screwed you have no idea!
Hear! Hear!
Well said!
#94 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.30.22 at 5:20 pm
#16 Sail Away on 01.30.22 at 3:02 pm
As a veteran, I would welcome citizens to cheerfully dance on my grave, or, if the case may be, a monument recognizing sacrifice. That’s sort of what freedom is all about. Just share the toast.
———
Sailo.
Please be specific.
What did you sacrifice?
Did you free people enslaved by evil dictators?
Or are you bragging as usual?
———
I think the general sentiment is that, yes, the Kuwaitis were freed from evil dictator Iraq by the US and coalition forces. It’s true as a lowly infantry private I didn’t do it all singlehandedly, though.
#108 VladTor on 01.30.22 at 5:45 pm
….Who forced any substance into your body?
***********
Government with Pfizer!
Garth, you know a lot of those who aren’t vaccinated could and would have (I think 25% of the unvaccinated at least) if they had a choice. At the beginning of vaccination, there were AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Now everywhere ONLY PFIZER even in special vaccinating centers. I checked couple pharmacies by myself for somebody.
I was talking with a friend of mine a week ago who went to the Czech Republic to visit his parents. There, in any pharmacy, you can be vaccinated with any vaccine approved by WHO – Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and even Chinese vaccine. Here, the corrupt government now is forcibly forced to vaccinate only with an experimental vaccine Pfizer.
This is where the protest grows when people have no choice. Country bought Pfizer. WHY?
—————–
What you talking about?
My booster a month ago was Moderna.
And about your fictional Czeck friend (who probably is Billy Bob): Pfizer is called BionTech in Europe.
#21 Mike in Airdrie on 01.30.22 at 3:07 pm
It’s a sad time to be a Conservative. The best we can hope for (it seems) is that the Liberals pick a new leader who is more centrist and less divisive.
—————————————–
I bet JT is back on the podium but personally I am going to vote for whoever comes closest to getting the Liberals out.
I wonder how many truckers participate in elections?
One of the best comments I read was that it was unlikely that any of the protest organizers or participants are Mensa members. This also goes for some of those who comment here, who pretend to know what they are talking about.
Organizers of the protest convoy are apparently holding a news conference only for who they deem trustworthy media
So, just like Trudeau’s Parliamentary Press Gallery.
How so? It’s open. – Garth
The first time it hit my radar was in June 2002. The 28th – G8 Sumitt was held in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Security was very tight and some protesters were even thrown in jail on arrival at the Calgary Airport as their previous history was known to authorities. People aren’t thrown in jail lightly, even in Alberta where the police would have the full support of the Jaguar.
Then there were the ‘hockey riots’. 2011,2010,2008, 1994,1993,1986 in Montreal and Vancouver, but also 2006 in Edmonton. Looting, cars burned, windows smashed. More or less similar to what we all witnessed happening in the summer of 2020 south of the border, and much of that mayhem continues today. Just check the crime stats. Or stream the video of hell holes like Seattle, Portland, etc., where some set fire to police stations with people inside.
This isn’t getting better, it’s getting worse. So don’t get woke, wake up.
Canadians sometimes suffer from a lack of ‘self awareness’. We think we are better than ‘the other’, especially when casting an eye south of our borders. That’s not only stupid but dangerous. And it shouldn’t be brushed off with claims of ‘fringe groups’. That’s a dodge and a diversion. ‘Fringe groups’ should never be dismissed. Review world history during the 1930’s if you think otherwise. Or maybe just re-read a very intelligent post from .01.28.22, #351 and this sentence which really reasonates :
“Canadians seem to be sleepwalking into totalitarianism. If you think it can’t happen here you are just not paying attention.”
The right to protest peacefully should always be encouraged and defended, but anyone who incites hatred, violence or the destruction of personal or private property needs to come under the microscope and laws should be upheld. It’s become fashionable to dismiss cancers in society with the waive of a paw. Fringe players, thinking outside of norms, etc., it’s “just a phase”.
That’s very lazy and only encourages those who seek to destroy the best elements of our society. How to address it? With a scalpel of course. Hand to hand combat is the only way through, whether it’s this issue, drugs, or the homeless issue.
Really? Thousands of good folks standing up for what they believe in. A couple idiots do something stupid (as happens at all rally’s) and you focus on that. Good job pushing the liberal agenda, watch your shelves go empty and remember it was your fearless leader Trudeau who caused it.
Of course ‘the CBC’ did not suggest that. Grow up. – Garth
https://thepostmillennial.com/cbc-suggests-russian-actors-behind
No of course not Garth..its all fiction and a big misunderstanding. The CBC only speaks truth.
Some panelist on TV asked a federal minister a question. And suddenly the fringe social media says the CBC suggests Russians are behind the truckers. You cannot be that thick or gullible. – Garth
DELETED. Libel.
I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It’s a depression. Everybody’s out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel’s worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there’s nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there’s no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We know things are bad – worse than bad. They’re crazy. It’s like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don’t go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, ‘Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won’t say anything. Just leave us alone.’ Well, I’m not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don’t want you to protest. I don’t want you to riot – I don’t want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn’t know what to tell you to write. I don’t know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, ‘I’m a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!’ So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!’
Sanity has erupted in Ottawa. For now, but the masked zombies will be back. The disease must be eradicated.
One thing to note is that the mask mandate in Ottawa is basically dead this weekend. Virtually no masks worn in hotels, food places and stores, and staff have either given up trying to enforce or don’t actually care.
#102 JP Brichta on 01.30.22 at 5:30 pm
I spend some time on the Hill on Saturday morning. It was interesting. Lots of people from all sorts of backgrounds, from all across the country. Families with kids. Lots of smiling people. People were happy to be there, happy to be around each other, without masks in the sun. Freedom of association is a beautiful thing.
—————–
Sounds like people were there to celebrate.
I thought they were there to protest.
Take off your rose-colored glasses.
Thats why eye witnesses are usually not very reliable in courts.
Confirmation bias.
@ Cоветский капиталист & Понтий Пилат
efficency
—
Now tat you too mentioned efficency, my wife must be most inefficent one…
In around late june early july 2020 (yes year is correct) wifi started complaining about pain in lower abdomen, it was come and go thing and pain intencity was un even, from very painfull to faint discomfort. By late sep of 2020 we knew that there is something that should not be, but not malignant.
Long story short first “visit” to specialist was over the phone at 28 dec 2022, yes that is correct).
My cousen had silimar thing during cv scare in developing courtly more like 3rd world, and her issue was dealt with in 2 weeks, yes two weeks.
All this time she worked at hospital with or without pain, but truth to be told if i was married to my with my kids i would do same.
Ponzi is very confused, he is either lucky with health or important enough to make his way around faster, because from what i see working stiff are getting stiffed…
#85 Honor on 01.30.22 at 5:04 pm
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-should-justin-trudeau-be-deciding-what-views-are-acceptable
Well Garth. I agree with Rex Murphy on this one and beautifully written. Justin is the one dividing the country and who is he to be telling us what acceptable and unacceptable views are.? Did we annoint him King..I guess he believes that. When you grow up on Sussex Drive and have the famous last name then I imagine you get a bit full of yourself. Its a shame many Canadians cant see him for what he is.
The media, you and many are trying their hardest to demonize these people who have the right to protest and frankly represent a lot more people than you think. When you are told you will lose your job if you dont take an experimental vaccine..well that to me is being forced..or an analogy I like..as if someone if pointing a gun at your head. Its a very aggressive act and you are threatening taking away someones livelihood..and lets not forget all the small business owners this government has thrown under the bus. If those are not reason enough for people to demand enough is enough then I dont know what is.
When the PM and many other prominent people start spewing out lies about how this is about protecting our children when any statistic out there shows there is effectively near zero risk to kids from COVID..well its time for people to stand up and make themselves heard.
I am sure many in Ottawa dont like the loud noises and crowds from this but this cause is too important. The mainstream media and the Liberal/NDP party and even you Garth are trying really hard to paint this group as racist, misogynist, imbeciles but in the end the vast majority of them are honest hard working and decent Canadians who are FED up with government mandates that have and are effectively ruining many peoples lives and livelihoods.
///////////////
Thank you for expressing it so well.
Well stated Garth. Thank You.
Yesterday, We Got caught in the Trucker protest here in Van. One big rig, no trailer, lots of mini vans, smatterings of Screaming Karens holding placards with dumb, overused, tired, nonsensical verbiage occupying every intersection from 10th and Burrard to the waterfront. Pathetic. Mostly ignored or got bemused stares form the adults trying to go about their day.
Little disappointed their fellow and equally effective protesters at Extinction Rebellion didn’t join the partay and lie down in the traffic to shut down the evil petrol spewing heretics as they did to commuters here last week, the week before and several instance previous.
Guess there is professional rabble rousing courtesy. (Thou shalt not interfere with another group simpleton actions) particularly if they might simply run over your prostrate, undernourished, defiantly tattooed, billboard like body untainted by a thing called “work”.
Warms my bitter paleo boomer heart to see such accommodation between enemies. There is hope!
“I support free speech. I have never been in favor of censorship. Private companies have the right to choose what they profit from, just as I can choose not to have my music support a platform that disseminates harmful information. I am happy and proud to stand in solidarity with the front line health care workers who risk their lives every day to help others.” — Neal Young comments, after he pulled his music from Spotify.
Spotify’s shares dropped two billion dollars in value as a result. Doesn’t look good for Spotify, especially if more artists pull out.
@#110 Meh
“68 million people in England no longer required to wear them. What’s their deal?”
+++
The covid virus saw their hideous teeth and ran screaming in the other direction……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrpUSKE9p_M
Meh on 01.30.22 at 4:03 pm
#40 Mark on 01.30.22 at 3:49 pm
Time to start charging the unvaxxed for their hospital stays. Free to choose to not get the jab …. But pay up if you run into issues
———————————–
Agreed.
And you as well if you’ve ever smoked, taken illicit drugs, abused alcohol, are overweight, ride a motorcycle, go snowmobiling, go sky diving, had unprotected sex, ignored your blood sugar and blood pressure readings…well you get the idea.
—————
The difference is those other non-covid health problems are not clogging up health care systems and denying access to treatment for people with legitimate health issues.
And covid can be prevented with a simple 5 minute, $3 jab which. A jab that has been shown to be overwhelmingly safe by real science.
Unfortunately the gullible are being mislead by science ignorant podcast hosts and tinhat vitamin salesmen.
Sad because thousands of antivaxxers will die from covid or have long-term health problems.
I don’t get it. A statue got dressed up and a couple people had unsavory flags and that’s what you take away from this? Rediculous.
Protesting against loss of bodily autonomy, forced masking and forced business closures is a noble cause. The pandemic is not the emergency. The emergency is government violating long held sacred liberties.
If a supposed “conservatives” like Garth doesn’t see this, we are in big trouble.
It’s one thing to have people of a country not agreeing about small things. You know, the amount of tax increases, what roads should be built, etc. But the fact that we have such heated disagreement about bodily autonomy is disturbing. This is a sign that people will be more divided than ever going forward. Sadly, you will have people like Garth saying it’s just fine and dandy as the government tries to push new forced vaccines that will be coming out. Terrifying. People who want to be free best prepare to fight for their lives.
Once in a century. You can cope. – Garth
#110 Meh on 01.30.22 at 5:46 pm
Ten thousand people. No masks. In a pandemic. And you are bragging about it. Garth
———————
68 million people in England no longer required to wear them. What’s their deal?
////////////////
Maybe it has something to do with their teeth?
I was surprised some many people wanted to have sex with our Prime Minister. Both men and women. Weird sign to have, but I guess he wasn’t replying to them via the normal email method.
After reading and seeing things this weekend, I now support a Vax tax or fine for those who have not had their jabs.
The CBC and the mainstream media have worked hard to discredit the protestors by taking pictures of agent provocateurs. The protests are NOT against health care workers, but against a government that has completely mishandled this pandemic and used it as a power grab.
I can’t believe that you Garth are using these rare instances to paint the entire group with the same brush.
I didn’t. The whole premise is pointless and puerile. – Garth
Mr. Turner thank you so much for your blog. You are an intelligent, sane & compassionate voice during troubled times. If you ever decided to run for office again, I would donate my time & money to help get you elected. I’ve been a lifelong Liberal, but you sir are the type of person we need in office!
I really wish all you haters oils be here to see what lies are being portrayed to you by main stream media
The tomb dancing and Fox desecration are lasting images.
—————————————–
I’ll say. It makes me absolutely livid. It’s no secret I care very little for Justin Trudeau’s leadership. But on this I am 100% in support of the PM.
There are countries where disrespect of this kind would earn a decade of hard labor in a frozen northern Gulag. I wouldn’t bat an eye.
But this is Canada, fortunately… or not?
I don’t like what the mask is doing to my beard either, it’s taking on a weird curve that doesn’t want to go away. Plus with my black toque/mask on and big beard out the bottom, my head looks like a damn paint brush.
Strangely, every time I think of something to add here I scroll thru the comments and discover several other posters have already said it, so not much point in any amplification on my part.
I will give our host full marks for a very well written piece, however. The 2 of us would disagree on several key points, but so what? I know lots of people who disagree with me sometimes/often (I’m actually married to one, and so far thats worked out OK) and we still carry on a relationship, business, personal, whatever.
I’m pretty sure the protesters converging in Ottawa will have no problem elucidating their concerns publicly; no point in myself trying to get inside their heads. FWIW, I certainly do agree with their STATED display of pushback against govt & medical over-regulation and the continual advancement of remedies that obviously don’t work; except perhaps for persons continually pushing them?
Power will concede nothing without a demand.
Unfortunately, my idea of good govt is trapped inside some sort of a “Galbraithian” timelock; where its capable of doing great things for its country and people IF its led/managed by individuals who realize the good of the many outweigh the good of the few. We ain’t there right now, (if we ever have been) but it has worked a whole bunch better in the recent past.
(And no, I did not learn everything I know about life from Star Trek, but coincidentally am watching “Generations” right now)
For a person who’s been self-employed for almost 4 decades, I still manage to sound like a bit of a socialist! Anyway, as far as the Convoy goes, I’m more concerned with police over-reaction and/or an “agent provocateur” situation developing than a group of truckers going postal; been painting rigs since the 70s and they’re a pretty solid group of people…whether lease-ops, owner-ops, or company drivers. They’ll say their piece, make their point, and go home.
Work beckons…well, if some of them have any work after these border vaccine mandates; probably another one of their concerns.
Noticed a goodly amount of comments about personal responsibility re: health care access, and I agree in principal but I’m thinking our Medicare system would have to be completely overhauled to move this fwd; let alone the educational area. In this current era of “wokeness” and “mememe” the idea of personal health responsibility will go over like a led balloon…not to mention the prospect of trying to prevent disease eventually destroying the economics of managing disease.
Finally, a note about how one family deals with personal health “responsibilty” …have a customer who’s a very serious rider, cafe racers; BMW and Ducattis’. Years ago, he had a couple serious dumps while he and his-now wife were dating, btw; recovered from both, got married, 4 young daughters. His wife is an RN who works triage.
He’s not allowed to ride a motorcycle if she’s on shift.
“We’re all pandemic-whacked. ”
Garth that turns out not to be the case. Many of us are doing fine except for the actions of government which it turns out to be the real plague followed by Their allies.
We the people can do nicely if the politicos and their friends would stand down and get back in the closet.
With a bit of luck interpol and the worldcourt will be with you all in due time.
Tonight Canada’s men’s soccer team beat the USA 2-0, thrilling match. Lots of cheering maskless fans, no distancing, no enforcement! It’s events like this that make everyone wonder, why, what for? People just don’t care anymore.
What you write is technically not false, but how we are at this point IS the entire issue.
Wind back to 2020 perhaps it was warranted all these extreme measures that now two years later have become regularised. All with not much proven benefit.
The worst is you have certain provincial figures, with a nod from the Feds, activity antagonising citizens thinking turning the screws will produce 100% conformity – which they won’t.
Then you have the massive frustrated middle who complied only to be met with more of the same, with the same ‘tools’ and no off ramp for when this ‘ends’. Or at least not being the single biggest concern rammed down everyone’s throats.
Don’t really post much here anymore, but today’s blog is a definite keeper.
Very eloquently said.
@#147 David
“I really wish all you haters oils be here to see what lies are being portrayed to you by main stream media”
+++
Could you repeat that?
Only, in English this time…
#140 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.30.22 at 6:19 pm
Sounds like people were there to celebrate.
I thought they were there to protest.
Take off your rose-colored glasses.
Thats why eye witnesses are usually not very reliable in courts.
Confirmation bias.
—
Are you trying to gaslight me? Should I believe the CBC or my lying eyes?
Believe it or not, a protest can be joyous. Trying going to one some time. Don’t worry though, some of the hand-painted signs were very impolite.
Well said, Garth!
Went down to the USA Bellingham this weekend. Me and the wife were the only car at the boarder WAS GREAT. Boarder dude was awesome. Good chat.1st time I saw my bra-in-law in 2 years. Sunday beers and fish and chips at the brew pub. Wine time now. I think Ill go back to Kanada and grab the RV head south. Lifes good. Protest away!! GAMES ON!
For quite a while now , NFL stadiums full of cheering fans have been for the most part , maskless.
Guess they bought into learning to live with covid.
Thanks Garth, nice synopsis. I have been a life long conservative voter, no more, this is just too much. The conservative party give these fringe elements too much attention – and therefore give them a swamp to grow in.
#144 Slim
I see James Blunt is now threatening to upload new music to Spotify if it doesn’t get rid of Joe Rogan…haha
He might have meant that sarcastically…
The narrative going in was this was going to get violent. That didn’t happen so todays talking points are confederate flag, pee on statue and swastika. Nauseating listening to CBC today, amazing how lockstep the media is.
Garth, congrats, you hit all the key post rally talking points.
Meanwhile in the US and the UK they are back to normal. 80K people in football stadiums today while our triple vaxed PM is in hiding due to exposure. Exposed to a virus and our guy takes the week off. He deserves all the flack he gets, truly embarrassing.
The sad part is the Conservatives would actually win and stay in power for a considerable amount of time if:
– they ran on the merits of fiscal responsibility
– they had a charismatic leader
– they adopted *some* centrist view points
– they actually moved the needle on reconciliation
#148 Penny Henny on 01.30.22 at 6:37 pm
#110 Meh on 01.30.22 at 5:46 pm
Ten thousand people. No masks. In a pandemic. And you are bragging about it. Garth
———————
68 million people in England no longer required to wear them. What’s their deal?
////////////////
Maybe it has something to do with their teeth?
————————————–
Haha good one!
If it was 1992. Have you had a good look at most Canadian hockey players dental records? ;)
#125 Wrk.dover on 01.30.22 at 5:57 pm
#75 tbone on 01.30.22 at 4:40 pm
My millennial kids have zero interest in a restored 1969
Z28 .
______________________________
Did they ever see one go through an intersection with the front wheels hanging in the air after some clutch manipulation bounce though?
I’d pay to re-live watching that at 16.
++++++++++++++++++
Aaahhhhhhh. I remember the days. Can’t do that now with front wheel drive. I miss the twentieth century. When my cup holder sat beside me and wore a mini skirt.
Local milk 4 litre jug was $4.69….now $6.00.
People expressed their opinion period.
No one died in the process. Much ado about nothing.
Get over it both sides. Nothing is perfect.
Dying is a part of life. The problem is too many don’t have the maturity to deal with death and dying. Hence the whining over covid deaths when all other deaths over the past two years are marginalized by those who control the fear narrative.
Right CBC, Justin, Biden?
The cost of covid lives are miniscule to the real problems coming with the aftermath.
But those in charge and so arrogant will have to deal with the mess sooner than later. Be careful pointing fingers.
Remember, we are only in the first inning. Memories are long.
This past weekend was just a little noise. Blowing off steam.
Kicked dogs may forgive but never forget. Especially if things don’t return to whatever you consider normal.
Guest on CNN this morning: “There are going to be more covid variants coming. We will probably develop some PAN-VACCINE to cover ALL the variants!”
Looks like a grim future if this continues.
“One Vaccine to rule them all, One Vaccine to find them, One Vaccine to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.”
Garth, at what point does this end? How many vaccines do we have to stick into our bodies?
You are wrong.
On a beautiful, sunny day in Hamilton, Canada beat the US in the soccer qualifier 2:0.
Who cares about a few disgruntled truckers.
A time to bring out the flag and celebrate.
A z28 in 1969, I haven’t googled it but remember a rally sport back about then, I was a firebird guy…
Cheers
#146 Reality Check on 01.30.22 at 6:25 pm
Meh on 01.30.22 at 4:03 pm
#40 Mark on 01.30.22 at 3:49 pm
Time to start charging the unvaxxed for their hospital stays. Free to choose to not get the jab …. But pay up if you run into issues
———————————–
Agreed.
And you as well if you’ve ever smoked, taken illicit drugs, abused alcohol, are overweight, ride a motorcycle, go snowmobiling, go sky diving, had unprotected sex, ignored your blood sugar and blood pressure readings…well you get the idea.
—————
The difference is those other non-covid health problems are not clogging up health care systems and denying access to treatment for people with legitimate health issues.
And covid can be prevented with a simple 5 minute, $3 jab which. A jab that has been shown to be overwhelmingly safe by real science.
Unfortunately the gullible are being mislead by science ignorant podcast hosts and tinhat vitamin salesmen.
Sad because thousands of antivaxxers will die from covid or have long-term health problems
—————————
Soooo chronic and deadly diseases stemming from poor health/lifestyle choices/habits and accident victims from risky hobbies are not and have never clogged our Healthcare system. I guess waiting to see a specialist, surgeon or getting an mri or a critical procedure for nearly a year, with hospitals and doctors offices absolutely blitzed long before the unvaxxed came along, was only a coincidence or a mirage. Gotcha. My father had primary bone morrow cancer years ago, and Sunnybrook treated him the hallway while he waited for a bed and another extra 2 weeks waiting for critical care.
The podcast you speak of had the main pioneer of mrna vaccines, you know the guy that would know as much or more than anyone on the planet about their effectiveness and possible damage, as the guest. Sorry that you didn’t like what he had to say. What are your qualifications to engage or disagree with him Johnny Canuck? Quick at rolling up the rim at Timmy’s and chomping on Timbits while watching the Leafs lose?
Reality Check definitely required. But you really can’t fix stupid unfortunately.
Oops, I googled it, completely 100%wrong… mea culpa
Freedom Convoy Ottawa promoted by Tucker Carlson on Fox News. Enough said.
Probably be 50 by the time all this is over.
It will be a blight on my late 40s record, I believe up until this pandemic started I was enjoying my 40s more than I enjoyed my 30s.
Could be the recency bias talking.
I want to be patient but also want to get cracking on my bucket list.
Time is of the essence.
I don’t know too many guys who enjoyed the second half of their lives more than the first…
M47BC
The remnant posters and author of this pathetic blog are in dire need of rabies shots and a long series of boosters.
Sorry Garth I see it differently. BTW, fully vaccinated all three shots, all my family is too. A few months ago I would have probably have agreed with most of your post however, enough is enough.
1/These are not fringe lunatics, I dare say the majority of people are silently cheering them on.
2/From all reports this is a peaceful and non violent protest, if you don’t agree with their stand on the issue fine. But they do have this right.
3/For the number of people, it’s a bit petty to talk about a few isolated incidents, based on today’s climate I’m not even sure you can attribute this to the protesters in many cases.
4/The media bias is everywhere on both sides. I just wish there was a reliable source of truth anymore. The only thing I trust so far is the drone footage I’ve seen and people I know who watched for hours as the trucks went by. Time to defund the CBS if they can’t report the facts.
5/If you tell people they’ll loose their jobs if they don’t get vaccinated, you are forcing something into their bodies. I am not yet willing to accept this.
6/No expansion of the health care system happened in two years. Perhaps we need to stop buying votes and start investing in what we all need. Perhaps that $500M election costs could have expanded a few more beds in the ICU.
7/O’Toole is out, Pierre Poilievre is the next leader when Trudeau goes down in flames.
https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre
Hat’s off to the truckers, 10-4.
#134 Jag
That’s a dodge and a diversion. ‘Fringe groups’ should never be dismissed. Review world history during the 1930’s if you think otherwise.
——————-
Again, someone who does not know what happened in the 30s.
Mass unemployment, huge devaluation of the currency, mass demonstrations and fights in the streets. Nazis vs. Bolshewiks.
A country that felt it was treated unjustly.
Does that look like Canada today?
Or maybe you think that will happen, if we ignore the truckers?
#168 barnz0rz on 01.30.22 at 7:41 pm
The sad part is the Conservatives would actually win and stay in power for a considerable amount of time if:
– they ran on the merits of fiscal responsibility
– they had a charismatic leader
– they adopted *some* centrist view points
– they actually moved the needle on reconciliation
+++++++++++++++++++
– and if they promised to provide more free stuff than the other two donkeys.
Trudeau did not handle this well. Could have been more considerate and compassionate to ALL CANADIANS instead of the divisive comments he made that galvanized the protesters.
I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the donors are from Russia, China and ISIS.
#171 DON on 01.30.22 at 7:47 pm
Local milk 4 litre jug was $4.69….now $6.00.
———–
So, drink less.
Not good for you anyway.
Says Dharma Bum.
@107 Graphics Girl
I’ve got 2 PhDs in my family. One knows about buildings and airflow (PhD thesis) and the other in “environmental” stuff.
Both have been wearing N95+ masks for the duration. They can’t understand how the MBAs and the politicians were giving all kinds of strange signals. I ascribe it to:
1) MBA’s don’t listen to Engineers/Scientists. From my experience in organizations large and small, the MBA’s seem to think that said Engineers/Scientists don’t know anything real, while the MBA’s think they have a lock on reality, and scientists/engineers need herding, and those engineers/scientists herd as well as cats do, so best to ignore them. Politicians?? Garth can tell you how *that* works.
2) Fear. Remember way back at the start; no masks around; the price of everything safety-wise went through the roof?? The Feds destroying millions of N95 masks in Manitoba, because they were past their best-before-date?? Imagine if the word got out that everyone needed an N95 mask, changed daily, when there was no supply??
3) Normality. I think that, to the best of their ability, the people in charge really tried to keep normality flowing as best as they could through this pandemic. Hindsight is 20/20, but each and every one tried their best.
4) Doctors are doctors. Not Engineers, nor scientists. (My dad was a family doctor, and we’d have interesting conversations on this very subject)
Like you, I think people are fed up with this, but at my advanced age, I also believe that Mother Nature never sleeps, and is always trying to find a way to cull the herd.
Mother Nature does not listen to MBAs and Politicians; she drives the world. Want to be part of the culling? I certainly don’t, so try to put up with the inconveniences. Respectfully yours, Deckie.
Garth deleted a post from me yesterday, I assume it was perceived as anti-vax. That was not my intention, as I’m triple vaxed, and grateful for the vaccine.
The post was a link to a song by a First Nations artist about frustration with the whole COVID pandemic,and it did express some distrust of government (not a surprise that some First Nations feel that way), but my motivation in posting was what I perceived as its overall explicit message of broad unity. This is Garth’s Blog and certainly is his perogative on links allowed .
The song called our police ‘stormtroopers.’ Do you even know what the means? – Garth
I don’t really want to betray my In-laws, after I promised to look after them in old age, so I’ll just age in place myself, treading North Pacific water until all the fruits have fallen from the trees.
I didn’t think I would ever go back to Tasmania, but if this is the new normal I will have to reconsider that plan.
I would have to find a way to strap my TFSA in my suitcase…
M47BC
—————————————————————————
Turns Out Tassie Is One Of The Top 5 Places To Survive A Full Global Collapse.
A new study has declared that Tasmania is one of the few places in the world that would be able to survive a full global collapse, should the ongoing march of clime change make the shit extremely hit the fan.
The research paper, published by Sustainability on July 21st, identified the southern island state as one of five ‘collapse lifeboat’ states that people would likely look to move to in the event of a major relocation, alongside the UK, Iceland, Ireland and the southern island of New Zealand.
In fact, the research determined that New Zealand would be the best place to form a ‘node of persisting complexity’ (read: a society similar to what we have now), with Tassie, Iceland and Ireland also having “favourable characteristics”.
To figure out what places around the world would be suitable to survive a global collapse, the researchers ranked countries depending on a range of elements.
An ability to grow food to sustain a population, the proximity and connection to larger populations and ability to manage borders in instances of mass-migration, and existing indigenous renewable energy resources, manufacturing capacities, and a general proneness to climate change were all used as markers to rank countries, which makes sense that Tassie landed in that top five – and New Zealand’s south island topped the list.”
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/new-research-tasmania-survive-global-collapse/
A little known tidbit for those who are unfamiliar with monetary policy….I know I know, you all want to talk about the virus…but one very tired subject deserves another.
So here you have it anyway…
…on monetary policy…
Monetary policy actions take time – usually between six and eight quarters – to work their way through the economy and have their full effect on inflation. For this reason, monetary policy is always forward looking and the policy rate setting is based on the Bank’s judgment of where inflation is likely to be in the future, not what it is today.
And as i said and alluded to in an earlier post here today, 8 quarters and we’ve yet to feel the real inflation of government pandemic spending excesses…but we will soon.
The GoFundMe should go towards the $800,000 per day cost of policing this bunch, and the rest to healthcare to pay for the ICU beds they are going to fill up in a few days.
Well said. Amen.
Looks like a lot of Trudeau voters on this blog tonite! But Canada is made up of millions of other loyal Canadians that don’t worship the ground he walks on. I love the fact all these folks spent the money in fuel and lost time off work (and be supported by hundreds of thousands of citizens braving the cold) to fight for Canada.
This convoy was the backbone of Canadian patriotism, and overall so far peaceful. How embarrassing for Canada too see a thrice-vaccinated leader hide from the event. I guess that’s what liberals like Trudeau and his good friend Biden do, ……escape from the podium!
The epidemic opened the door to huge expansion of government intervention into our lives. And this is what bothers me and truckers. This discussion does not represent a clash of views about corona virus, but a clash of views about human freedoms. It is necessary to fight back, to be prepared to resist the “ism”.
Enough is right. This made me sick.
This is Canada, not Ughhhmerica.
I wrote a fairly lengthy post and tried to submit it twice but no go. Oh well. One thing I will re-write though is that in this day and age of ZOOM meetings, etc for Justin Trudeau to not even attempt to talk to a huge number of protesters like that is unforgiveable. He really has proven himself to be a coward and the whole world sees it. You can disagree all you want but it’s a fact. He’s done. Maybe not right away but he will never crawl out from under the yellow rock he’s hiding behind. Never.
#147 james on 01.30.22 at 6:32 pm
I don’t get it. A statue got dressed up and a couple people had unsavory flags and that’s what you take away from this? Rediculous.
Protesting against loss of bodily autonomy, forced masking and forced business closures is a noble cause. The pandemic is not the emergency. The emergency is government violating long held sacred liberties.
If a supposed “conservatives” like Garth doesn’t see this, we are in big trouble.
It’s one thing to have people of a country not agreeing about small things. You know, the amount of tax increases, what roads should be built, etc. But the fact that we have such heated disagreement about bodily autonomy is disturbing. This is a sign that people will be more divided than ever going forward. Sadly, you will have people like Garth saying it’s just fine and dandy as the government tries to push new forced vaccines that will be coming out. Terrifying. People who want to be free best prepare to fight for their lives.
Once in a century. You can cope. – Garth
———
James! Hello there!
I highly recommend you visit a nice dandy place like North Korea. Stay for a while there, make some friends and learn about the culture. If you make it back, reread what you wrote above and let us know how stupid and ignorant you were writing that. That goes for all the other freedumbs on here.
You’ll definitely have a very different opinion of bodily autonomy after that. You’ll probably even have a different opinion of mental autonomy too.
If you ever return.
The Garth Turner sycophantic lickspittles are out in force today..
If you ever wonder how we could ever end up with a government as inept and ineffectual as this one, look no further than the comments section..
Yeah, that’s the ticket, lmbo.
And banks are hiking rates.
And inflation is at 1.9 percent.
I like it better how the Conservative’s Pierre P. put it.
https://youtu.be/pRDjWjx5XX4
This whole freedom convoy is an epic embarrassment and a colossal waste of money. What a sad drive home it will be.
Our health care system has been a sinking ship for a long time. So much money wasted on futile care while primary or preventative care gets left behind. Wait times are out of control. No capacity built (the opposite) during pandemic leading to lockdown after lockdown. Really need to reassess priorities of the system to make it more equitable and accessible.
I do understand why people have had enough. I’m not even sure I support vaccine mandates anymore. Take your shot or take your chances.
Because of my work I’ve had the opportunity to interact with the various the Pandemic Protest Movements that have sprung up in Canada since about summer 2020 and spoken face to face with many of them – sometimes in heated arguments. One thing that I’ve observed is that support for or against the various government restrictions seems to track pretty closely with income levels, whether you have the ability to work from home, and the extent to which your life has been disrupted by the measures. No surpise, those least disrupted and least threatened financially tend to support restrictions, those who have been upended tend to be the ones calling for an end to them. With respect to Trudeau, one thing that appears clear is that the Federal Liberals have failed to craft an effective communcations strategy where those most effected don’t feel as though these are diktats are being issued willy nilly by elites who have inflation protected protected pensions and have not had their paycheques threatened.
So after trying three times to post polite and respectful (although angry) posts to this blog tonight and having failed I can only assume two things. Either you are anti-western Canada and I just figured it out now OR you are not a Conservative at all but a closet Liberal. Or both. Your blog. Bye. A reader and occasional poster since about 2009/10. I know you don’t care.
You were published. And you’re right. I don’t. – Garth
I agree 100% with you Garth. The Liberals may think that this is a “win” for them, but it is a loss for Canada. We need a strong and credible Conservative opposition badly.
All they did was create a Covid vector that they will take back to their rural areas. Dumb to drive down, dumb for Erin to talk to them, and about to get dumber because they are going take Covid home with them.
I’d like to see this crowd try to pull this off, in say, Bejing. Then they’d start to appreciate what freedom really is.
The guy with the swastika flag was obviously a plant. How stupid are liberals to not see right through that?
And Antifa stormed the White House. – Garth
Garth, everyone is entitled to their beliefs, I don’t see the protest as you do but what really disappoints me is you do not comment on Trudeau going into hiding and conveniently using covid as an excuse. Your silence ..speaks volumes from someone who always man’s up or should I say man/boy/he /him… up
It’s an insane, naive thought any leader would address a mob. – Garth
* I’m referring to the guy nowhere near the protest holding a Gadsen flag and a Swastika flag in the same hand. Lol
These people no different than those that took your Canadian flag.
Not swastika but Hakenkreuz the term originally used by Nazis themselves later misinterpreted to hide its *nottobenamedreligion’s origins… Swastika is an auspicious symbol of dharma
Garth
You don’t seem to get it.
When you loose your job, when you loose your spouse (she divorces you cause you didn’t take it or you did take it and she didn’t), when you loose your family, when you have to close you business permanently….this is the worst. You have money, lots of people here have lots of money, have lost nothing.
Others have lost EVERYTHING. It was taken from them.
When people loose everything, they loose it.
But what is worst. Every Canadian has lost FREEDOM.
You don’t understand. You can’t understand.
The virus did that. Blame it. – Garth
#181. AO1
Perfectly stated and hit the nail on the head.
#205 Blair
I’d like to see this crowd try to pull this off, in say, Bejing. Then they’d start to appreciate what freedom really is.
…………………………
That’s exactly why they did it, because they see Canada turning into China, and want to stop it for your benefit as well!
#197 – Right on!!
#191 – whole heartedly agree.
Apparently according to their written MOU, the organizers and their supporters aren’t leaving until all COVID related health mandates(vaccines, masks, etc) are dropped in the entire country and Trudeau resigns.
Is this how “protests” ususally work?
#108 Sail Away on 01.30.22 at 2:09 pm
“The most important step in becoming successful in anything is to first become interested in it.”
— Sir William Osler
How true. When interested, you learn and retain everything possible, even the small details. After learning in that way, it’ll always be in your toolbox, so move on to the next passion with skill and knowledge from the first firmly established.
————————-
This is kinda a self explanatory quote.
Why would you learn something that you have no interest in?
Unless you have to.
Like math.
———
Anyway, it piqued my “interest”
Here’s another quote from the guy:
“We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.” .
That’s what JFK meant when he said:
“Don’t ask what the Country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country”.
What would a hypothetical dual citizen reply to that?
As I said before, if I still lived in Ottawa I would keep away from this protest as I prefer the company of responsible and mature adults.
Some Conservatives have voiced their support for what’s been going on, while Justin Trudeau has been fairly quiet. Why? Because he understands what Napoleon meant when he said never interfere with the enemy when they are making a big mistake.
The crisis has blown up because parliament, the premier body for discussion, has gone AWOL, sitting only 19 days since June. Politicians can’t just disappear in the middle of a multi-year public crisis and expect things to stay calm.
#211 miketheengineer on 01.30.22 at 10:08 pm
….
The virus did that. Blame it. – Garth
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Oh were we go, rewriting history.
The virus did not close bars, restaurants and offices – short sighted politicians did, get your facts straight.
No the virus did what it’s going to, Governments here spin otherwise with their solutions.
Conservative MP Michael Cooper being interviewed supporting the convoy in front of a Canadian flag with a swastika on it https://twitter.com/bgrantcampbell/status/1487474451478466565?s=21
Terry Fox statue desecrated https://twitter.com/kwhateverman/status/1487480802774589452?s=21
“Unvaxxed are Rosa Parks” sign https://twitter.com/texxto/status/1487461479351828490?s=21
Protestors parked on the War Memorial https://twitter.com/davidakin/status/1487427256511348742?s=21
Nazi flag in Major’s Hill Park https://twitter.com/yonifreedhoff/status/1487517973422223374?s=21
Woman drunkenly dancing on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier https://twitter.com/s_thornton_332/status/1487518296668721153?s=21
Randy Hillier and Maxime Bernier removing barricades and pushing past Parliamentary Protective Services https://twitter.com/randyhillier/status/1487515969182441474?s=21
Confederate flag flown from the back of a pickup truck on Elgin St https://twitter.com/arieltroster/status/1487081459546529798?s=21
Pat King being told to “kick it down” as he knocks on the door of the Prime Minister’s Office https://twitter.com/arccollective/status/1487519336277241858?s=21
An ambulance was blocked on its way to the Heart Institute at the Civic https://twitter.com/captcanuck6/status/1487504027785039879?s=21
More Confederate flags, this time at Parliament Hill https://twitter.com/gray_mackenzie/status/1487450201132613638?s=21
National Socialist Black Metal (aka matchy matchy fashy fashy) on the Hill https://twitter.com/arccollective/status/1487533015597080576?s=21
People sitting on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and flying a US flag https://twitter.com/arccollective/status/1487542994827825152?s=21
Fireworks being set off from the National War Memorial https://twitter.com/consumersos/status/1487583296166973442?s=21
Trump flags on the Hill https://twitter.com/consumersos/status/1487502064850804736?s=21
https://twitter.com/texxto/status/1487461895539933188?s=21
Can of beer thrown at journalist https://twitter.com/evanlsolomon/status/1487551134445277184?s=21
Protestors stole food from the Shepherds of Good Hope soup kitchen https://twitter.com/sghottawa/status/1487630726111576068?s=21
Protestors pissing on Parliament Hill https://twitter.com/carymarules/status/1487617782883799040?s=21
Protestor harassing and verbally abusing hotel staff https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/sf9ztw/trucker_in_ottawa_berates_staff_over_mask_mandate/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Nazi flag flying beside the Chateau Laurier https://twitter.com/justin_ling/status/1487667177461321728?s=21
On my way to the grocery store, a man drove by me with an upside down Canadian flag on the back of his truck. When I got to the store, a man without a mask called a store employee a “stupid b*tch” when she asked him to mask up.
Keep pleading that there are good people in this convoy. Cause I can’t see it. All I see are people feeling emboldened to act out angrily and rudely to everyone around them because they’re done caring about anyone other than themselves. We’re a society, a democracy. Living in a country that millions of people literally die to try and get to. We have no idea how lucky we are. Acting as if we’re living like they do in North Korea is pure insanity. The battle between both sides is pointless. You either care about other people, or you don’t. You can’t teach empathy. Especially in a blog comment section. But if that maskless man is one of your “freedom fighters”, then I want nothing to do with your version of freedom.
What a wasp nest this is, how do you guys succeed on not stinging each other!? Or maybe three shots did just that…
The best part is when your queen poses into the voice of reason, ahem, majority, now that’s quite a show.
Garth is full of hate soviet style propaganda.
Canada is radical left communist totalitarian fake country.
the self-destraction of canada is immenent.
the sooner the bether
Amin.
The protesters are not normal people. Normal people don’t support white supremist, Nazy, or people who urinate on graves, or steal from homeless shelter. Those things are not normal.
We need to respect each other and understand that our freedom ends at some else rights.
@#182 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.30.22 at 8:28 pm
Ponzie babe….. check out:
The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz – Being re-released this April. From 1938.
Pick up a copy.
And if you haven’t seen it ‘ A Hidden Life’. – Terrence Malick.
In the end it doesn’t matter. I don’t have a lot of faith that mankind will step up to save itself. Thank dog I can escape to the beach from time to time………….
Preach, Garth, preach. 100% bang on. Amen.
#217 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.30.22 at 10:22 pm
#108 Sail Away on 01.30.22 at 2:09 pm
“The most important step in becoming successful in anything is to first become interested in it.”
— Sir William Osler
How true. When interested, you learn and retain everything possible, even the small details. After learning in that way, it’ll always be in your toolbox, so move on to the next passion with skill and knowledge from the first firmly established.
————————-
This is kinda a self explanatory quote.
Why would you learn something that you have no interest in?
Unless you have to.
Like math.
———
Anyway, it piqued my “interest”
Here’s another quote from the guy:
“We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.” .
That’s what JFK meant when he said:
“Don’t ask what the Country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country”.
What would a hypothetical dual citizen reply to that?
+++++++++++++
He might ask u if u stored your rutabagas in a warm dark place.
Garth, I love you man. I will be sharing this succinct and poignant post as far and wide as I can. You encompassed the whole sorry affair brilliantly. Much love.
“You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.”
― Harlan Ellison
Here’s a message I got in a fortune cookie, it said: You can’t ride in all directions at one time. That’s something the Conservative party hasn’t figured out yet.
#217 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.30.22 at 10:22 pm
Here’s another quote from the guy:
“We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.” .
That’s what JFK meant when he said:
“Don’t ask what the Country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country”.
What would a hypothetical dual citizen reply to that?
——–
He would probably say a good way to support the country would be to start an engineering firm and employ many citizens in high-paying jobs while paying large amounts of corporate tax, simultaneously also sitting volunteer civic boards and guest lecturing at the universities and professional associations.
Or what did you have in mind?
Most of kanadian posts in garth’s blog are very similar to the letters of soviet people to the soviet newspaper “Pravda” , expressing full support to the communist party of USSR.
It would be great to at least give a time frame/ circumstance/ statistics for when our 14 legislative assemblies and respective committees will reopen and the order by decree by all levels of government that violate the Charter of Rights will end.
With so many vaccinated still getting infected “science” could make a case this could be solved by seasonal vitamin D supplement.
Hopefully the money raised by the truckers will go to Brian Peckford to fight this law where it should be, in court,
Thank you. I wish I was as good as you at expressing how I feel.
It is making me sad that people are behaving like some of the truck protest people are. Drama queen nitwits.
Thank you, Garth. Amen.
Willow is up and ready to start trading in housing like the Stock market!
to #108 VladTor on 01.30.22 at 5:45 pm
1. …And about your fictional Czeck friend (who probably is Billy Bob)
***********
It is you fictional. He’s name Lukas.
2. …Pfizer is called BionTech in Europe.
************
You just killed me on the spot with your intellect!
There is an oriental proverb – No matter how much you repeat “halva”, it will not become sweeter in your mouth.
Pfizer – he is a also Pfizer even in Africa.
Each share is 1/100,000 of a unit,$4.99 transaction fee, .75% management fee, and 2.5% property acquisition fee.
Perhaps this person is not representative of the majority of the protestors, or maybe she is. Anyway, these are the words on the sign she carried(typo/spelling mistake hers not mine):
MY ONE YEAR OLD CAN’T HAVE HER SURGERY BECAUSE OF THESE RIDICULOUS MANDATES I STAND ON GAURD FOR HER!
#221 Deplorable
No mention of the Rideau centre being closed all weekend due to the unruly mobs refusing to wear masks and harassing security guards and employees?
My bet is a lot of the protesters, never played on Team Sports. I would hope however many were small business people, who I think have been left adrift in this Pandemic, and the frustration is evident. Would be terrible to be a Politician today, however one issue I am disappointed about is the lack of representative parliamentary debate, it seems, to me many are not being engaged or encouraged to participate in some of these emergency decisions. The Big Box store versus Mom and Pops retail service outlet issue, comes to mind. Would be agonizing to not be open, even if there were few customers present. Standing down, for this long, is hard to rationalize, as the Bills, keep arriving.
Denmark becomes first EU country to scrap all COVID-19 restrictions
https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-becomes-first-eu-country-to-scrap-all-covid-19-restrictions/
“The situation in Denmark is that we have this decoupling between infections and intensive care patients, and it is mainly due to the large attachment among Danes to revaccination. That is the reason why it is safe and the right thing to do now.”
Some 82 percent of Denmark’s population is fully vaccinated with two doses, of whom 50 percent are boosted with a third dose, according to the Danish Health and Medicines Authority.
I’m all vaxed up. Triple in fact. I follow the rules. I don’t want to disrespect those who are nervous. I wear my mask indoors.
I needed a Sunny destination. I usually travel overseas 3 to 5 times a year. I have been cooped up at home and work for 2 years.
The propaganda regarding travel was overwhelming but I decided to go anyway. I’m totally glad I did. I am feeling so much better mentally and physically. (I’m a boomer).
I am spending a month in Mexico. I have not been here since I hitchhiked here through Juarez to Mazatlan in 1974.
It was the only direct flight to a sunny place with a short flight I could find so I’m in Puerto Vallarta. My wife is spooked about flying during Covid so she stayed at home.
Actually the travelers here surprisingly are mostly Canadian.
I really think all the propaganda about travelling is more to save foreign exchange than anything else. everyone in Mexico wears Masks. Social distancing is practiced everywhere. Plexiglass shields at every till. I feel safe. I don’t interact much anyway. I am here for the sun.
I will be required to spend $200.00 to get a PCR test to go home to my own country.
I think it is overkill. Many doctors also think it is unhelpful given that the genie is out of the bottle.
It seems to me to be a non tariff barrier to travel just to keep foreign exchange in the country.
I will categorically say that my trip was absolutely necessary for my mental and physical health. My only regret is that I did not do it a few more times during covid.
In Canada there has developed a culture of fun or happiness is bad, calling out anyone enjoying themselves. Presumably because the accusers are unhappy themselves with their lives.
This is not a new thing. Vancouver is truly a no fun city that has cancelled many festivals over the years for flimsy reasons.
They offload policing costs on organizers and heap liability on them for anything that goes wrong.
We will always have rowdies. At least one person throws a wrench in the works. That is a societal problem that could have been addressed with better school age discipline. I digress.
It could be a consequence of an ageing society who no longer wants to remember or understand that when they were young they had lots of fun parties. Bush parties, Nightclubs, Beach fires. (Police will come right away now to snuff that little bit of fun) etc.
I feel sorry for young people because they seem to be nothing but our pension funding robots now and more and more work and taxes are heaped on them.
44 Mark on 01.30.22 at 3:49 pm
Time to start charging the unvaxxed for their hospital stays. Free to choose to not get the jab …. But pay up if you run into issues.
———————————————————————————————
Does that include the police as well????
Very well said Garth.
The “trucker convoy” was a trojan horse from the moment it was pointed out to EVERYONE that lift Trudeau’s requirements to re-enter the country (no forced vaccine, there was a choice for unvaxxed to test & isolate after delivering their cargo) still wouldnt enable unvaxxed truckers to cross the border as the US has a ban on unvaxxed. The “trucker rally” became a joke. And conservative leaders made it worse by posting fake pictures of empty grocery store shelves from the UK. IT was a trojan horse. This rally was simply a “I am angry” rally. I feel bad for the hard working truckers – vaxxed and unvaxxed – who were used. The organizers then moved the goal posts. It became and “I hate Trudeau” rally but used the truckers as a cover. If these geniuses were really angry about restrictions, they’d protest Edmonton, Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg…..as most restrictions are provincial. Imagine if Trudeau tried to force Jason Kenney to impose restrictions. I haven’t even started on how disgusted and embarrassed I am about my fellow Canadians behavior – Terry Fox, War Memorial, Nazi flags, assaulting & abusing staff at a Soup Kitchen and taking meals meant for homeless people. I don’t buy the few bad apples argument. It was a disgusting display and all the enablers – Erin O’Toole, Pierre Poiliviere, Jason Kenney, Michael Cooper, Melissa Lanstman, Max and others…. you were all complicit in this. Hopefully voters dont forget.
I failed to clarify my point about borders.
The borders we are so afraid to cross are simply imaginary political lines.
Lets imagine that if restricting border crossing is such a good thing, then why only the line that is 7000km across Canada? If we are restricting travel there, then why not take it to the next step and ban or restrict travel between provinces?
No, I’ve got it all wrong. Lets go all in and have covid testing at the borders of every city and township! That will surely arrest Covid wont it?
Why is it Europe does not restrict border crossings in the Schengen Zone?
Sometimes when you take and argument and take it to the extreme it reveals fallacies!
Garth,
You need to watch an NFL game with 80,000 fans, no masks or visit the US (or UK or Ireland or Denmark…) where people are done with Covid.
What’s the plan, lockdowns forever?
Ontario, less than 600 in ICUs and that justifies total lockdowns????
Well said!
#117 Truckistan refugee on 01.30.22 at 5:50 pm
The CBC suggested Russia was responsible for the Trucker Convoy just after Elon Musk wrote that Canadian Truckers Rule. And then there was that guy who showed up wearing a mask and carrying a confederate flag shortly after Trudeau went missing.
I don’t know what to believe anymore.
Of course ‘the CBC’ did not suggest that. Grow up. – Garth
————————————————————————————————
Maybe this is where it came from?
https://www.foxnews.com/world/cbc-canada-russia-freedom-convoy-vaccine-protest-criticisms
Garth. Trudeau calls opposition racists , he funds terror pensions, and he’ll handcuff granny but you’re frustrated that your landlord expects monthly payments? Dude, it’s Trudeau who’s behind your frustration and pain. Focus. Seriously, this rant is your worst ever. I repeat, focus. This convoy is coast to coast. It is an anti Trudeau protest. Stop propping him up. Justin is the most racist and destructive PM in history. You and the CBC ( or Gerry Butts tweets) can save him. The sooner he’s out the sooner your building and your life will return to normal
These mother truckin idiots should be mandated to take a yearly digital..
The truckers are not anti-vax they are anti-mandate especially when the mandate is arbitrarily imposed.
Trudeau announced that the truckers are 85% vaxed, so what’s the problem. In the meantime, he is self-isolating for the next 5 days until all this blows over & the truckers go back to work. It is a shame that some of the disrespect for our national monuments etc. The whole situation could have been diffused had Trudeau agreed to meet a small delegation of truckers to listen to their grievances. Instead he labeled all of them lunatics and hooligans and poured oil over everything in his path. In the meantime he is so terrified of meeting them in the flesh that he is using covid to self-isolate. I for one don’t identify with this truckers group as they have attracted the extreme right wing as well as anti-Semite’s etc. not a good scene. I hold our PM mainly responsible in that our country is so divided at this time and Trudeau attempts bugger all to bring us together!!! Think about it he was only able to get far less than 40% of the electorate to even vote for him. We need someone to unify this great country not divide us!! I have lived in Canada for 50 years and am so disappointed in what is happening and by the way I believe in the science of vaccinations and am triple vaxed.
@#95 David and #107 Graphics Girl
Same here, I saw a peaceful protest and no confederated or Nazi flags during the two half days I spent on the Hill. In fact, I was so moved by the movement (pun intended) that I have contributed to the cause.
I’m fully vaccinated but I defend personal liberty and the right of self-determination over your own body.
This is bullying. This is intolerance. I m now unfollowing you for your ignorance.
Here is my contribution to the day’s blog
https://gem.cbc.ca/media/the-gig-is-up-a-very-human-tech-story/s01e01
This Convoy was not about freedom as we would think about it. It was about “Freedom from the consequences of my actions” They bleat about rights, but never talk about responsibilities. Pathetic.
Garth,
As you’ve often pointed out, it’s your blog, and you can decide what goes up and stays up.
Your work, over the years, has been great, and a dose of financial literacy this country sorely lacks.
It is somewhat surprising however, to see your dismissive comments (an inaccuracies) regarding what is occurring Ottawa right. As a man who was booted from his party for expressing a minority but correct opinion, and as a man who no doubt had some pretty nasty insults hurled at him for merely flying a Canadian flag this past summer, you’d perhaps be a little more open to seeing the bigger picture of what the alleged “racists, misogynists, and fringe minority” are fighting for.
The beauty of Canada and countries like it, until recently, was that people could disagree and live in harmony (vs the Balkans for instance). Nowadays, expressing a viewpoint that is inconsistent with the party line is likely to get someone labelled a racist, a xenophobe, some other kind of phobe, etc. Rights are being stripped away and we all just lurch forward.
If at the beginning of all of this, anyone had said that Canada would endure 2+ years of ceaseless lockdowns, mandatory vaccinations, a national debt exploding at all levels, inflation, and housing prices jumping 50% while working class jobs were eviscerated due to lockdowns, nobody would have agreed to this. Instead, it comes like a slow drip–and what we’re seeing this weekend is a reaction to this and more.
Thanks again for the work that you do.
Respectfully,
Marvin.
One last remark.
I’m vaccinated. 3x. Got COVID 1 month after my booster (Pfizer). I do believe the vaccine likely resulted in a milder infection than I would have otherwise had.
I also do believe that since it is clear the vaccine does not prevent infection or transmission, vaccine passports are useless, as are mandates. They certainly do not stop the spread. And once you take that argument out of the equation, I don’t understand why we should allow a minority government to dictate ever increasing aspects of people’s lives, including what goes into your body.
Marvin.
Excellent post today. Thank you for a thoughtful commentary on a crazy situation.
Well put Garth . Could not agree more with you
Too bad the protestors didn’t burn, loot and murder – that way they’d get some familiar “mostly peaceful” positive coverage by the politically-correct coward media.
“it’ll repel many centrist Canadians, 90% of whom think vaccines are the best idea to stop people from dying and overwhelming hospitals.”
False. A portion of that 90% took the vaccine because they felt forced to – to keep their jobs, etc. Don’t be naïve.
> 90% of whom think vaccines are the best idea to stop people from dying and overwhelming hospitals
——
A lot of people in this “rally” were vaccinated, some double or even triple. So this isn’t 90% vs 10%. I know a lot of people who were vaccinated solely because they were told they would be fired if they didn’t. Is that really freedom of choice? Sort of like “You can choose anything you want for breakfast, as long as it starts with eg and ends with gs.
I’m conservative period. I guarantee that most of these libertarians and supposed freedom of choice people are anti abortionists. Don’t jab me but screw women and their rights to their own bodies.
Seriously leave go to Texas gtfo of Canada if it is so bad.
And do us all a favour and shut up.
The numbers indicate that vaccines do not stop you from getting this virus and needing hospitalization and dying. Why, therefore, do we need to mandate them? People who have immunity through previous illness do not need vaccines, yet must have them in order to function. Common sense has not been applied from the start of this. We still demand face masks, even though science tells us they do not work. We still destroy peoples lives through lockdowns, even though many doctors and scientists admit that it is ineffective. Most Canadians have not been seriously hurt by these rules and, therefore, are not sympathetic with those who have been crushed. Canadians are showing as much empathy as the Germans did in World War II.
# 213 Sunburned canuck These people have no interest in the benefit of someone like me. If they are worried that Canada will become like China, they are way off. Anyone with some knowledge of history and current affairs knows that there is no comparison between the rights and liberties we have and the authoritarian limits in China. Although, it might be argued that the Chinese, as individuals, are more likely to have a stronger sense of personal responsibility, and have better manners than the average Canadian these days.
#206 When Will They Raise Rates? on 01.30.22 at 9:52 pm
The guy with the swastika flag was obviously a plant. How stupid are liberals to not see right through that?
And Antifa stormed the White House. – Garth
————————-
Freedom Convoy waving Nazi flags. Seems legit.
Well said. Interesting study shows that science has discovered another pandemic that is spreading faster than covid. F.I.S….f..cking idiot syndrome.
Well said Garth. Truckers are hard working people and the few make it seem otherwise and I know that it’s just a few.
250th?
Ustabe’s posts. Somebody I knew in real life, now a ranked member of a fringe political party has been hammering that same line of crumbs all over his social media – for at least a week now.
Where there’s smoke there’s ire?
This country has fallen. And it’s long gone.
Well Garth,
I am a long time reader and huge fan, but this article is probably the first ever one that I really see who you truly are.
This was written from the heart, with no political partisanship!
I have been a Con voter for so many years, but now I am questioning where I stand after this weekend.
Thanks for this great article…..I have been sharing it to family and friends – they all agree , WOW THIS IS GOOD!
> There will always be people who believe their interests supercede yours.
You think you describe anti-vaccine people but that’s what vaccine mandate is.
Everybody *must* get vaccinated because some person out there can’t get vaccinated. How is that my problem?
Everybody must get vaccinated because the healthcare system which we’ve been forced to participate in sucks, is poorly managed and overloaded. How is that my problem?
Anti-mandate says everyone’s interest is the same. You may, but don’t have to, get vaxxed. Whatever works better, wins.
That’s what makes capitalism and liberty work better than any other approach – market of competing ideas, not communist top-down mandate.
I believe this conservative and pro-market blog hasn’t been able to explain its consistently wrong position.
Now let’s give credit where credit is due and say when it comes to investing, it seems (not a customer so I don’t know) Garth’s investing philosophy has worked well even though I’ve criticized it too.
I support the truckers and all nonviolent protesters against government tyranny, overreach and overspending.
It’s very simple – but simple is too hard for most commenters here: let people make their choices. Let market work. What are you afraid of?
Btw, on the swastika flag. Obviously immense sacrifices paid not to see that symbol in our capital. Obviously. But if the Nationalsozialistische party was alive today, does anyone have doubts what their position on vaxx mandates would be?
“Over the last few days I’ve taken flak for dissing the ‘freedom’ fighters, as I have consistently stated that the only path out of this epoch is through science and medicine. Not bullying and big machines. There will always be people who believe their interests supercede yours. They place their rights above those of society. They use vile language, intimidation, noise and antisocial acts to gain attention.”
Ironically you basically just described Justin Trudeau.
@#217 Ponzies Psychiatric Ponderings
“What would a hypothetical dual citizen reply to that?”
++++
Well I guess it depends what country this “dually” harkens from.
My best guess if he speaks German?
” Mein Kot schleudernder Affe tippt das..”
#80 Jim on 01.30.22 at 4:51 pm
Why, why, why are the powers at be ignoring natural immunity via prior infection? Various studies show it is more effective against variants than being double vaxxed. Why are they so intent on vaccinating everyone, including those with natural immunity? Nobody has answered this question. This issue will continued to be ignored. Why? Why is there no exemption for those that have had a prior infection? Why is there a constant drumbeat here and everywhere that the only way out of this pandemic is vaccinations, while natural immunity is ignored? As more people get infected and recover, this question will become louder, but the powers at be will continue to ignore it.
********************************************
Actually many parts of Europe recognize prior infections. Look at Austria who were even more draconian in their mandates than Canada which is saying something. They treat vaccines and prior infection equally. They even allow a negative test. They are also starting to ease restrictions starting this week week…Yet here we are in Canada keeping these QR codes for the foreseeable future. Sorry Garth, you can’t simple throw out science to explain everything away. It’s all open to interpretation and varies. What’s happening here is just arbitrary rules from a government that contradict science and people are finally fed up with it.
“VIENNA (AP) – Austria plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions in February after the country’s national vaccine mandate, the first of its kind in Europe, takes effect on Tuesday.
Starting Feb. 5, restaurants will be allowed to remain open until midnight, as opposed to 10 p.m., Chancellor Karl Nehammer said at a Saturday news conference.
In addition, rules effectively barring unvaccinated people from stores and restaurants will be phased out. Starting Feb. 12, proof of vaccination or recovery will no longer be required to enter shops. A week later, on Feb. 19, entry into restaurants will be allowed for all who can prove vaccination, recovery or a negative coronavirus test.
Nehammer also said last week that lockdown restrictions for vaccinated people, which have been in place since November, will end on Monday.
The announcement Saturday comes in spite of record-high new infection numbers in recent days, fuelled by the omicron variant. On Friday, Austria reported 34,748 new cases. As of Thursday, the Alpine nation’s 7-day rate of infections stood at 2,381.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, about 10 times as high as the rate at the start of January.
Still, Nehammer said the low rate of patients now hospitalized for the virus means additional steps toward normalcy are possible. Officials in Austria expect the omicron wave to peak in the first week of February.”
Dogs are great
beer is good
I guess it all depends on which narrative you subscribe to as to which statues and buildings can be desecrated
Thank-you Garth for your common sense and empathetic approach to what’s going on. I have been a conservative my whole adult life and I find that I am very close to being completely done with the party. I am gratefully 2x vaxed and will have the 3rd as soon as I can get it. (Didn’t qualify because I took care of my son and girlfriend for 10 days while they recovered from Omicron recently) I am likely just right of centre and like #21 Mike in Airdrie said, if the Liberals could pick someone a bit more centrist who stopped piling on the debt, people like me would likely move over for good. It has become embarrassing to be a Conservative and people associate us with anti vax idiots which so many of us are not.
Garth, thank you for putting this issue into perspective and having the courage to speak it. I agree with you 100% and am encouraged to know that most Canadians reading this do too.
I will stand with the truckers over Trudeau and the useless Ottawa bureaucrats everyday.
I have it on good authority that the Russian ministry of trade has been partying like there’s no tomorrow with the finest of food, drink and opulent accommodation for the last month or so. The running jokes are mostly a theme on:
‘Isn’t it too bad that Europe has no natural gas of their own?’
thank you for giving me faith in the Country again. Incredible support we saw this weekend!!
thank you!!
https://frenchdailynews.com/economy/4070-the-freedom-convoy-is-being-prepared-in-europe
i have faith again!!
trudeau voters-when does shame kick in?
Hear! Hear!
Add to the posting, that Donald Trump publicly praised “Canadian truckers” to the cheers of his supportive rally. Then Global News showed a millennial in Ottawa with a Trump flag. She said we need Trump here in Canada, he’s the greatest!
We wouldn’t have the fiasco in Ottawa if Trump had not shown the way forward. No wonder average Canadians despise the man.
@#280 Jennifer
“if the Liberals could pick someone a bit more centrist who stopped piling on the debt….”
+++
It’s too late.
$500 BILLION dollars in 3 years?
Waaaaay to late.
That debt ship has sailed in to the Reef of Rate Hikes.
We aint seen nuthin yet.
Waffling O’Toole and his “advisors” dropped the ball big time.
Embracing the truck rally.
He’s toast.
Sooner the better.
We wouldn’t have the fiasco in Ottawa if Trump had not shown the way forward. No wonder average Canadians despise the man
…..
hey, look we have a goofy shameless Trudeau supporter trying to blame Trump for this
clown show— how’s Canada’s housing bubble coming along? can your kids afford a house? want to blame Trump on that? Call it collateral damage for incompetent govt oversight/policy?
YOU lose, the country has lost
:)
@#283 Sail Away
“I have it on good authority that the Russian ministry of trade has been partying like there’s no tomorrow with the finest of food, drink and opulent accommodation for the last month or so.”
+++
No no.
You’re confusing the Russians with the British Prime Ministers Office.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220131-long-awaited-british-partygate-report-handed-to-boris-johnson-s-office
Unless, the Ruskiis were partying WITH the British PMO
#137 Nonplused on 01.30.22 at 6:17 pm
DELETED. Libel. Garth is a centrist, a moderate; he’s not a far-right extremist like you, Nonplused. You may need to find yourself another blog to haunt, since Garth clearly doesn’t share your viewpoint. :P
I agree with the other commenters who think this post is one of your best Garth and I also wish you would run for PMO.
#269 When Will They Raise Rates? on 01.31.22 at 5:23 am
#206 When Will They Raise Rates? on 01.30.22 at 9:52 pm
The guy with the swastika flag was obviously a plant. How stupid are liberals to not see right through that?
And Antifa stormed the White House. – Garth
————————-
Freedom Convoy waving Nazi flags. Seems legit.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Could it be that the protestors with NAZI flags are actually trying to say that the Liberal government is NAZI, it’s just that they don’t understand that by carrying a flag they are really saying the opposite of what they mean? Just a thought, cause you know, some of those “Freedom” supporters are not too bright.
#258 Bert Paquin on 01.31.22 at 1:59 am
This Convoy was not about freedom as we would think about it. It was about “Freedom from the consequences of my actions” They bleat about rights, but never talk about responsibilities. Pathetic.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yup. My body. My choice. Who cares about the consequences to society.
These mother truckin idiots should be mandated to take a yearly digital..
…..
this is how stupid your average Canadian is
reap what u sow Canada
how’s housing affordabiloty in the country? any more ‘rich guys’ you can tax?
:)
2000 years ago Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples were a fringe minority and that was the biggest freedom movement in history of man kind.
That was sick. – Garth
Another liberal/progressive biased view of the news coverage. This isn’t about just mandates, it is about freedom to live as people want–by making decisions about what goes into their body.
If the government is so serious about a vaccine mandate where is the antibody testing location for the covid recovered to get their passport? Oh, they don’t belong either, even though their immunity is superior.
This is about coercion and control. Truckers are largely vaccinated, they are not some vector for disease. You shouldnt have anything to fear with your triple vax and mask, so why do you care what a few “fringe” people do?
Hypocrisy at its finest. And now you can censor this comment like the news censors the real stories.
Garth, remember when you didn’t feel cancelling Canada Day to honour the indiginous residential school horror was important enough to not hang your flag? People have different views, don’t trash the Truckers.
No valid comparison. – Garth
The trucker protest was too little, too late.
A misguided, ill timed, wrongly targeted effort.
Why is it always the extremists, of whom most are quite ignorant, narrow minded, and largely uneducated, that are the ones to vocalize their anger and take some sort of action?
Why couldn’t normal people have taken to the streets en masse in some provocative forceful way during the height of the lockdown madness – not the vaccination issue – but the shuttering of businesses and the “stay-home” orders, to protest the abusive overreach of our pitiful “leadership”?
We are such a passive and complacent society. We love to have dumb rules and regulations imposed upon us.
Once vaccinations were available, and the majority of sane people got them, the government should have backed right off any lockdown garbage, instead of kowtowing to the various “health authorities” who relentlessly held on to their once-in-a-lifetime power and their extended 15 minutes of fame.
It’s ironic that ultimately it was the healthcare system that failed us, as they screamed for lockdowns and mobility restrictions instead of working with the governments to increase the capacity to deal with cases.
Shame on the government at all levels.
Shame on the health care authorities that took advantage.
I wonder if it has occured to those who are afraid of the vaccine, that they take more risk getting in their car to go to the vaccine clinic than they do from the needle? And they get in their car multiple times per week versus a few shots in the arm over the course of a year or so.
Garth and everyone commenting all smug, acting like these forced mandates, measures and restrictions actually make a difference with this new varient. Watching the US and other countries live basically restriction free while we play hockey games to empty stadiums, close gyms, destroy businesses and spend terrible amounts of money without even checking how much all this is actually helping the goal of keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed.
So what happens guys when they just keep up the restrictions on your life, forever. At what point do you break and say enough. Policy is based on polls and no longer science. This smug attitude that we need forced measures on everyones lives because it’s a simple solution is what’s causing this to continue.
These people protesting have broken, they realize that the government has zero intention on allowing us to ever live free again. Maybe we should be little bit compassionate because we will all break soon enough.
#295 barry on 01.31.22 at 9:46 am
This is about coercion and control. Truckers are largely vaccinated, they are not some vector for disease. You shouldnt have anything to fear with your triple vax and mask, so why do you care what a few “fringe” people do?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes the “protest” is about coercion and control. The organizers are trying to coerce the government into dropping ALL COVID related mandates COUNTRY WIDE and FORCE Trudeau to resign. They say they are not leaving until their demands are met.
Angus Reid just published a survey today showing that the majority of Canadians are in favour of abolishing ALL Covid-related mandates. We’ve already seen that vaccines can only do so much, it’s time to move on.
Source: https://angusreid.org/omicron-incidence-restrictions/
Ask them if they’d like a pony, or a new Tesla, too. – Garth
Garth wonders why the lamestream media was banned from the Presser. IT says alot because they can not be trusted, they distort and continuously propagandize for the gov’t narrative. The fact that thousands of people support this protest should not be discounted. Don’t forget Ottawa was not the only city to receive a protest. When Canada finally gets an unbiased media, then I will start to rely on their reportage. It is hilarious that the mayor of Ottawa wet his pants because a sign and a flag was put on the statue of Terry Fox. How Pathetic.
The protest leaders (one an avowed western separatist, the other a Yellow Vest radical) want fawning, uncritical coverage. That’s because little about this movement can withstand the sunlight of scrutiny. – Garth
#288 crowdedelevatorfartz on 01.31.22 at 9:35 am
@#283 Sail Away
“I have it on good authority that the Russian ministry of trade has been partying like there’s no tomorrow with the finest of food, drink and opulent accommodation for the last month or so.”
———
No no.
You’re confusing the Russians with the British Prime Ministers Office.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220131-long-awaited-british-partygate-report-handed-to-boris-johnson-s-office
Unless, the Ruskiis were partying WITH the British PMO
———
Ah, very likely. On one side, the partiers would be very careful to hurt no feelings amongst the BIPOC, LGBTQ, two-cycles, and those with bad haircuts.
The brutalsky Russkies would be a bit looser.
Trucker convoy somewhere in the middle.
what data /guru guides these types?
from James Laidler:
The chief problem with the VAERS data is that reports can be entered by anyone and are not routinely verified. To demonstrate this, a few years ago I entered a report that an influenza vaccine had turned me into The Hulk. The report was accepted and entered into the database.
Because the reported adverse event was so… unusual, a representative of VAERS contacted me. After a discussion of the VAERS database and its limitations, they asked for my permission to delete the record, which I granted. If I had not agreed, the record would be there still, showing that any claim can become part of the database, no matter how outrageous or improbable.
Since at least 1998 (and possibly earlier), a number of autism advocacy groups have, with all the best intentions, encouraged people to report their autistic children—or autistic children of relatives and friends—to VAERS as injuries from thimerosal-containing vaccines. This has irrevocably tainted the VAERS database with duplicate and spurious reports.
Laidler’s example is not the only one. In 2006, in response to a lot of commenters crying “BS!” after having read about Laidler’s anecdote, another autism advocate also known for combatting antivaccine misinformation then decided to see if he could replicate Laidler’s experience. He could:
VAERS has two ways of submitting a report. Firstly, you could download a PDF, fill it in and post it off. Or, you could do what I elected to do and fill in and submit a report online.
VAERS has a helpful popup which tells you exactly what it needs to know – which are the most important pieces of data it needs. However, the fact that I live in the UK was not deemed of importance. Neither was the fact that I told VAERS that my daughter had been turned into Wonder Woman. The only piece of contact data I submitted was my email address and I wasn’t even asked for that. I submitted it voluntarily.
As Jim Laidler himself once put it:
You see, the VAERS database is not a good source of material for any epidemiological study, a fact acknowledged by the very people who maintain it. The purpose of the VAERS database is to act as a repository for any complications following a vaccination. These complications may be due to the vaccines or may be coincidental, but the VAERS team wants to hear about them all. After all, their purpose is to watch for any unexpected consequences of vaccinations.
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/dumpster-diving-in-vaers-doctors-fall-into-the-same-trap-as-antivaxxers/
Sent from Mail for Windows
…. wellness gurus /tv doctors
along with millions of clicks. Gibson claimed to have kept her cancer in check by spurning conventional medicine and instead adopting a “wellness” diet – avocados, berries, no alcohol and so on. When she documented her “miracle” recovery on Instagram she became a celebrity.
At the heart of Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con (BBC One, 10.35pm)
hate groups
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/fbi-infiltrator-nazies-kkk-biker-gangs-1280830/
==============================
Two years after a psychology researcher in The Netherlands was found guilty of misconduct, including manipulating data and cutting co-workers out of publications, a new report says she deserves more retractions.
https://retractionwatch.com/
Pity the veterans who went to ACTUAL war and fought and died for YEARS on end, while we whine about getting paid to stay home, wearing a mask to enter a store and getting vaccinated for free.
Just a short thought on masks after watching interviews yesterday:
People wearing masks, on average, touched their faces about every 10-15 seconds to adjust the mask. People not wearing masks did not touch their face.
How can Covid be transmitted? Oh, by touching a surface with it, then touching one’s face. And vice versa. Even better to go in a restaurant with a group who all remove their masks and place them on the table.
We, the rationally logical tiny minority, weep.
Touching a mask is not the same as sticking a finger in your nose or chewing a fingernail. But maybe you have a different anatomy. – Garth
Now what could possibly go wrong with truth, transparency, and full honest media coverage of events when media is “OWNED” by the Liberals. This is pure evil and Canadians being swayed by Gov’t agenda’s and fed cow manure. Propaganda and control at its finest.
https://westernstandardonline.com/2020/10/how-trudeau-bought-the-media/
https://ottawasun.com/opinion/columnists/lilley-cbc-will-get-more-of-your-money-mostly-because-it-serves-trudeau-liberals
I own this blog. Explain that. – Garth
Trudeau is only a bad guy till he comes for your Mom? The prevailing attitude hating the freedom lovers sucks. Trudeau is dangerous.
When low income and others can’t eat and heat, our Canada is broken .
CBC News: Why oil and gas heating bans for new homes are a growing trend.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bans-fossil-fuel-heating-homes-1.6327113
“a little longer….yea where have I heard that before”
@Beetman, post #294:
If Jesus returned today many so called Christians, especially the Evangelicals, would persecute him because in their narrow minded view he would be seen as a communist. It would be a repeat of about 2000 years ago but, instead of dying on a cross he would instead go to the electric chair, lethal injection, or firing squad.
Yes, I think you are correct. I know many who support the truckers, not because they agree with their stance on vaccines, but because we are sick of Justin, and his “do what I say, not what I do” mantra.
=================================
#37 Alberta Ed on 01.30.22 at 3:38 pm
I suspect that the wide-spread demonstrations across Canada this weekend have more to do with years of top-down, often contradictory mandates by our virtue-posturing prime minister than opposition to vaccines.
Yeah,
Britain has removed all restrictions and somehow after a few weeks of a downward trend, the downward trend has stopped.
It ain’t over till it’s over, folks.
Just like when taking antibiotics.
Don’t stop after a few days when you start feeling better.
2 years now, what’s a few more months.
Great post. We can’t shake our British heritage I guess, that, and/or Canadians really haven’t experienced adversity.
==============
#297 Dharma Bum
@#297 Dharma Bum on 01.31.22 at 9:49 am…….”Why couldn’t normal people have taken to the streets…” +++
Because that’s an illusion. How would the so called ‘normal people’ be gathered?
It implies that a fundamental ingredient of something called ‘Unity’ is present when it is not. We are more divided than ever with every special interest group looking out for number one. Some are working hard to keep that momentum going. Basic incompatibility also plays a role. Not an accusation, just an observation.
In the current ecosystem values held by what Tom Brokaw referred to as ‘The Greatest Generation’ are under threat. Not yet extinct, but definetely endangered. It could, to borrow a Garth phrase, “Not end well”.
What is your opinion on this, Garth?
Letter: Preston Manning on why the Constitution supports the truckers
It is the Trudeau government not the truckers that is failing to comply with the rule of law
Participants in the Freedom Convoy currently occupying Ottawa are exercising their freedom of belief, expression, association, and assembly — all rights guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 6 of that Charter also specifically guarantees “mobility rights” — the right of every citizen “to enter, remain in, and leave Canada” and the right to move and gain a livelihood.
If the federal government wants to limit the exercise of these rights, according to Sections 1 and 24(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, it must be able, if challenged, to demonstrate before a court of competent jurisdiction that the law imposing the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in a free and democratic society. This the Trudeau government has failed to do, and thus it is the members of that government not the truckers and their friends who are failing to comply with the rule of law.
Article content
— Preston Manning was the founder of the Reform Party of Canada, served as leader of the official Opposition in Parliament and is a founder of the Canada Strong and Free Network.”
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/letter-preston-manning-on-why-the-constitution-supports-the-truckers
Preston Manning: the man most responsible for the destruction of the Progressive Conservative government and years of subsequent Liberal rule. Until Conservatives find the middle again, they will never win. – Garth
Freedom Convoy……. So Ottawa has the freedom to sue them for 850 K in daily police and clean up costs? Do the workers who are losing valuable hours have the freedom to be compensated?
This convoy was such a bad idea on so many levels.
#315 Conan.
How many people have been charged or sued for blocking rail lines in 2020? How many people have been charged for the cost of rebuilding churches illegally burned down last year.
Amazing how one sided everything is. Protesters must pay and be held accountable only if they support a so called “right wing” cause. The order of law should apply to all.
I forget – when was the last time “left wingers” paralyzed Ottawa streets with trucks, blocked emergency vehicles, forced an entire retail mall closed, demanded free meals from a food bank, urinated on the stone walls along Wellington Street, desecrated a national monument or danced on a soldier’s grave? Please remind. – Garth
It would be interesting to know what percentage of people wouldn’t have taken the jab if they weren’t coerced to to keep their job, travel, go to sports venues, restaurants, to go to university, to see a loved one, etc etc. Coercion is not freedom and it’s nice to see the tide turning. I wouldn’t want to have been an enabler when the dogs turn against their masters.
More important question: how many more would have died or clogged the health care system that governments are wholly responsible for keeping open and accessible to all? It’s not just about you, as shocking as that seems. – Garth
Garth, you do not agree with him?
Preston Manning: the man most responsible for the destruction of the Progressive Conservative government and years of subsequent Liberal rule. Until Conservatives find the middle again, they will never win. – Garth
World war 3 is for your mind. So far, Canadians are losing. Sharpen up your skills people. You’re going to have a rough ride if you don’t.
OMG Jay….. This convoy has 8 million dollars. Spend a million on lobbying. Spend a million on a decked out truck that just drives around Ottawa handing out coffee and Mc muffins to the down and out.
Is Trudeau and his minions being paid to post here now?
Canadian patriots, like you. – Garth
Freedom Convoy……. So Ottawa has the freedom to sue them for 850 K in daily police and clean up costs? Do the workers who are losing valuable hours have the freedom to be compensated?
This convoy was such a bad idea on so many levels.
_____________________________________________
Sue for police costs… because they’re doing what they’re paid to do already? How liberal of you!
You whine about people losing hours of work from the protest yet you say nothing about those who have lost their jobs, businesses, families to abuse and addiction as a result of these mandates that we know haven’t curbed the spread. The Gov’t has spent billions but nothing on expanding healthcare… and you’re worried about some people losing some hours of work? Get real.
Billions more have been allocated for healthcare since 2020. God, you folks are embarrassing. – Garth
#297 Dharmy
Once vaccinations were available, and the majority of sane people got them, the government should have backed right off any lockdown garbage, instead of kowtowing to the various “health authorities” who relentlessly held on to their once-in-a-lifetime power and their extended 15 minutes of fame.
It’s ironic that ultimately it was the healthcare system that failed us, as they screamed for lockdowns and mobility restrictions instead of working with the governments to increase the capacity to deal with cases.
Shame on the government at all levels.
Shame on the health care authorities that took advantage.
———————
Shame on you for wearing ideological blinders.
I think we should thank the health care authorities for trying to save the system. And mostly succeeding.
And keep casualties to a “reasonable” level.
If there were an earthquake, you and your ilk would lambast the authorities for not being prepared.
Which is normal for people who complain and blame, rather than go out and help.
Preston Manning: the man most responsible for the destruction of the Progressive Conservative government and years of subsequent Liberal rule. Until Conservatives find the middle again, they will never win. – Garth
Liberals have to move back to the centre and the cons have to move back to the right. This Marxist path is only leading us down wards to enslave ment.\
There are not enough voters on the hard right to elect any federal government. Sorry, cowboys, but this ain’t Texas. – Garth
Your blog Garth, you get to decide what comments to publish…my comment last night about mass formation psychosis didn’t make it to the blog. Maybe my tone wasn’t respectful enough, I get that part- I was frustrated by parts of your post yesterday as I typed. Also shared the link to the 5 hour long US Senate panel discussion with top drs about the covid response that was held recently. Crickets. I don’t see it in the comments? Just wondering why
I do not publish vaccine or Covid misinformation. Go dump on FB. – Garth
#2 Westsider
“I don’t have time to watch the protests, I’m too busy working in the ICU, trying to save the lives of the un- vaccinated” said all the doctors and nurses working in the ICUs across Canada.
________________________________________
Then where do they find the time to make all those silly TikTok videos?
#257 Ed G
The numbers indicate that vaccines do not stop you from getting this virus and needing hospitalization and dying.
correct. so wrong. so wrong. so long.
#306 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 10:36 am
Just a short thought on masks after watching interviews yesterday:
People wearing masks, on average, touched their faces about every 10-15 seconds to adjust the mask. People not wearing masks did not touch their face.
“Touching a mask is not the same as sticking a finger in your nose or chewing a fingernail. But maybe you have a different anatomy. – Garth”
——–
Hey, I wear a mask and have been using my favourite one for the last 1.5 years, just like most people. Gotta stay safe. *sniff *adjust
Just watched the PM presser who recently contracted coward-19, focus entirely on a select few out of thousands of protestors and their hatred. A select few. So far, there is one person photographed with a swasika flag. One yet that’s all Trudeau, Singh and the media talks about. There are a bazillion police down there. Why wasn’t he arrested?
I saw the dancing on the tomb of the unknown soldier. It wasn’t dancing but jumping up and down. It’s disgrace to be sure but I also saw those surrounding that woman were draped in the Quebec provincial flag. No one says a word about that. Highly doubtful they had any association with the truckers protest but that goes against the narrative the politicians and media want to push. Why weren’t these people apprehended?
Trudeau keeps talking about truckers being 90% vaccinated but doesn’t acknowledge that most of those truckers there are also vaccinated. They aren’t anti-vaxx, they are pro-choice.
Billions more have been allocated for healthcare since 2020. God, you folks are embarrassing. – Garth
_____________________________________________
Yeah, on vaccines that lessen the severity of COVID. Care to tell us how much was spent on expanding ICU units? How about hiring more staff?
“You folks” Remember when Don Cherry got punted for saying that?
…urinated on the stone walls along Wellington Street, desecrated a national monument or danced on a soldier’s grave? Please remind. – Garth
***********
No evidence now that it was done by truck drivers from Freedom convoy. More over they told – if somebody going to do something wrong – put down they license plate number and let us know. We are peaceful protestors!
Garth, how do you think – drivers who crossed country from BC or Alberta and came in Ottawa to do terrible thing’s like you mention? Or they are here for something else?
To many provocateurs now around Freedom Convoy to show that protest doing by marginal minority.
#299
“Policy is based on polls and no longer science.”
——————————————-
Who said, other than you?
BC’s Dr. Henry would disagree with you.
More important question: how many more would have died or clogged the health care system that governments are wholly responsible for keeping open and accessible to all? It’s not just about you, as shocking as that seems. – Garth
………
provide the data Garth. Kindly provide the data of the untreated, undiagnosed in crease in chronic disease: hypertension, cancer, diabetes, depression
since, you are speculating, why dont we go down that path?
garth, you may want to speak with those IN healthcare, the delays are stunning. Do you know what happens when cancer diagnostic tests/treatment are delayed ?
#317 Jay on 01.31.22 at 11:50 am
“[…] Amazing how one-sided everything is. Protesters must pay and be held accountable only if they support a so-called right-wing cause. The order of law should apply to all.” Centrists and moderates find extremism, whether on the left or the right, to be unacceptable. The fact that you can’t see that scares the bejeezus out of me. :(
What a mess.
So if you’re multi-jabbed, pro-vaccine, wear a mask, but support the truckers – you are still a Nazi anti-vax murderer racist yadda yadda.
The CBC is toxic poison.
#329 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 12:12 pm
Hey, I wear a mask and have been using my favourite one for the last 1.5 years, just like most people. Gotta stay safe. *sniff *adjust
—
Psst… lil’ secret: we wear masks because COVID is an airborne disease — the surface spread vector has long since been shown to be minimal at greatest… When you swab for a test, as you recently did, you swab for cells not snot. Because the cells contain the viral load. This also means that all of the sanitizer at every business is mostly a waste from a COVID perspective.
You should always wash your hands after or before touching your face for non COVID reasons. If you are worried about touching your mask, I dunno, watch the movie The Jerk and adapt the opti-grab technology. You’re an engineer, you can figure it out.
#306 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 10:36 am
…How can Covid be transmitted? Oh, by touching a surface with it, then touching one’s face…
—
Add this to your dossier:
Stick to bridges bud.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/sars-cov-2-transmission.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fscience%2Fscience-briefs%2Fscientific-brief-sars-cov-2.html
I mean, I know CDC is fake-news to the new/alt-right, but there’s a ton of research on this now. Variants prior to Omicron primarily infected cells of the lungs. Unless you are touching your face and then shoving your finger, somehow, deep into your bronchioles, surface transmission ain’t gonna cut it. Omicron primarily infects the sinus — again, you don’t stick your finger that far up your nose.
Surface transmission is possible, but we wear good masks for a reason. And you should be wearing an N95 by now. They are about a buck. You can get them at Home Depot.
Traveling back to Canada today from Maui. They almost rejected our PCR tests because the file we had was not showing our date of birth. Luckily the west jet agent was familiar with the medical company we used and was able to drill down to find date of birth after 5 stressful minutes. Arrive Canada app is also a big pain with loads of questions. The point is travel is still difficult. This could push some people to say enough is enough!
I forget – when was the last time “left wingers” paralyzed Ottawa streets with trucks, blocked emergency vehicles, forced an entire retail mall closed, demanded free meals from a food bank, urinated on the stone walls along Wellington Street, desecrated a national monument or danced on a soldier’s grave? Please remind. – Garth
Your friends at BLM did that in SPADES..
In Ottawa? – Garth
Garth has fallen into the trap of the Laurentian Elite. That’s OK. He is a member of the establishment.
Canadians support the protest. It’s the end of the Trudeau regime. He is the worst Prime Minister in our nation’s history and is the sole reason we are so divided.
Open up the country already. The pandemic is over.
Can you not disagree with someone without personal attack? It’s the hallmark of a weak argument. – Garth
Given the current environment where would you put $100K right now?
There are not enough voters on the hard right to elect any federal government. Sorry, cowboys, but this ain’t Texas. – Garth
————-
I’d love to know what would be considered “hard right” in today’s Canada? What would their program be? Anyone willing to shoot (pun intended) a couple of main program points?
Anyone using the term “main stream media” loses my respect and my estimate of their intelligence drops by a lot.
#338 Faron on 01.31.22 at 12:46 pm
#306 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 10:36 am
…How can Covid be transmitted? Oh, by touching a surface with it, then touching one’s face…
——–
Add this to your dossier:
Stick to bridges bud.
[CDC link]
I mean, I know CDC is fake-news to the new/alt-right, but there’s a ton of research on this now. Variants prior to Omicron primarily infected cells of the lungs. Unless you are touching your face and then shoving your finger, somehow, deep into your bronchioles, surface transmission ain’t gonna cut it.
——–
???
Huh. The CDC site says:
‘Infectious exposures to respiratory fluids carrying SARS-CoV-2 occur in three principal ways (not mutually exclusive):
3. Touching mucous membranes with hands soiled by exhaled respiratory fluids containing virus or from touching inanimate surfaces contaminated with virus.’
You mean, like, opening the restaurant door hundreds of mask-adjusting people have opened, pulling out a chair that hundreds of mask-adjusting people have pulled out, and noshing on some chicken wings, fries and burger? That sort of thing?
I may have missed CDC’s discussion of bronchioles. Or did you just ‘scientifically’ create your own facts, in similar fashion to that you’ve already demonstrated many many times here? It’s getting embarrassing, bro.
Well said – and fully agree!
#325 There are not enough voters on the hard right to elect any federal government. Sorry, cowboys, but this ain’t Texas. – Garth
Garth I’m either dismayed by some of your comments or I’m laughing. Right now I’m rolling.
If we had more cowboy justice we wouldn’t be in this mess in the second place. They would have taken these treasonists to the oak trees years ago.
You are now banned. – Garth
Nobody I have ever met – even those I disagreed with mightily – went into public life to make things worse. The opposite. The government is not our enemy. Politicians are citizens who stepped up to try. None of them, like you, asked for a pandemic. And none deserve vulgarity, profanity or threats. – G.T.
I like that. Spoken like a true politician. I believe there might be a typo in your last paragraph: shouldn’t read “Most politicians are citizens who stepped up to try.”?
So cute when politicians are covering for their breed, the “rara avis”, the chosen ones the society must kneel before and be pious, because they work day and night for our good. The only job in the world where there are zero cases of incompetence.
Just watch any debate in the House of Commons or Committees and what you will see these days is partisanship: it’s Party first, not Country first.
So run for office. Beats bitching and moaning. I did. – Garth
Oh, Faron: TSLA up +10% from last week’s purchase at 854.
#343 Immigrant man on 01.31.22 at 12:57 pm
I’d love to know what would be considered “hard right” in today’s Canada? What would their program be? Anyone willing to shoot (pun intended) a couple of main program points?
___
According to the CBC, you just need to be in the same general vicinity as others labeled as such.
You are better than that. – Garth
#342 Where to put cash on 01.31.22 at 12:55 pm
Given the current environment where would you put $100K right now?
____
Portland cement, and 25M rebar.
(Bunker reinforcement)
342 Cash – What is your goal? Growth? Income? Safety?
What is your tolerance for risk? What is your timeline?
What percent of your investable assets does the $100k
represent? Do you have any debt?
All things you should discuss with your advisor.
#339 Shawn on 01.31.22 at 12:47 pm
Traveling back to Canada today from Maui. They almost rejected our PCR tests because the file we had was not showing our date of birth. Luckily the west jet agent was familiar with the medical company we used and was able to drill down to find date of birth after 5 stressful minutes. Arrive Canada app is also a big pain with loads of questions. The point is travel is still difficult. This could push some people to say enough is enough!
———————
Oh poor Shawn has to answer a few questions, when returning from Hawaii.
The horror.
It’s okay for the Natives to block roads, railway lines, for weeks, yet demonize peacefull protesters for expressing their rights, remember we have a charter that upholds freedom of speech, freedom of movement which the government does not abide by anymore.
It’s not okay for anyone. – Garth
With regard to the Ottawa demo and the ignorance, how does one get inside the head of stupidity?
To use an analogy, it’s like an old stereo receiver that’s on the blink. Possibly the power supply is lacking current, pots and switches are dirty-not making contact, caps are dried out or the output stage is leaking voltage delivering unlistenable harmonic distortion to the loudspeakers.
Fortunately a good tech can remedy this issue, but where does one start when it comes to nonfunctional grey matter between the ears?
#348 IHCTD9 on 01.31.22 at 1:39 pm
#343 Immigrant man on 01.31.22 at 12:57 pm
I’d love to know what would be considered “hard right” in today’s Canada? What would their program be? Anyone willing to shoot (pun intended) a couple of main program points?
___
According to the CBC, you just need to be in the same general vicinity as others labeled as such.
You are better than that. – Garth
——————-
In times like these, people show their true colours.
Just like Sailo.
….Can you not disagree with someone without personal attack? It’s the hallmark of a weak argument. – Garth
***********
Garth, it always happened like this.
For instance (it is working between good friends only. Don’t use this technology with somebody who are you don’t know well! You can be in big trouble!) – when I hadn’t arguments (or I hadn’t have them finally) and my opponent was Jew – I’m suddenly told him – and you are a Jew, the dispute ceased immediately and we went to drink coffee.
#352 Dr V on 01.31.22 at 1:44 pm
342 Cash – What is your goal? Growth? Income? Safety?
What is your tolerance for risk? What is your timeline?
What percent of your investable assets does the $100k
represent? Do you have any debt?
All things you should discuss with your advisor.
—————————
Haha,
The DR.
Always the voice of reason and calm in times of chaos.
But the truth is, in the Lower Mainland, if you’ve got 100 k lying around, it goes straight into a down payment for a rental condo.
#345 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 1:22 pm
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4
You effing clown.
#345 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 1:22 pm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7898030/
I pity your lack of ability to do a deep or even a deepish dive on anything. Literally anything. What a freaking clown.
@#344 Shawn on 01.31.22 at 1:13 pm
Anyone using the term “main stream media” loses my respect and my estimate of their intelligence drops by a lot.
–
deep state, Qanon, new world order, great reset and the like do it for me.
@#320 Chris L. on 01.31.22 at 11:54 am
World war 3 is for your mind. So far, Canadians are losing. Sharpen up your skills people. You’re going to have a rough ride if you don’t.
–
lol who told you that, joe rogan?
#356 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.31.22 at 1:55 pm
In times like these, people show their true colours.
Just like Sailo.
—
Yep. Now we know that SAGI can be both a reference to a Sail Away propensity to top-tick stocks or ETFs or a description of the crappy (probably cotton cloth) mask he wears that he only wears to virtue signal and rather than out of care for his fellow citizens which is the whole damn problem of this pandemic the FYIGM attitude.
Garbage. And your response to my apology, Sail Away, one that I didn’t even have to give and was out of actual concern for your fears, was also immature garbage.
#361 KLNR on 01.31.22 at 2:18 pm
@#344 Shawn on 01.31.22 at 1:13 pm
Anyone using the term “main stream media” loses my respect and my estimate of their intelligence drops by a lot.
–
deep state, Qanon, new world order, great reset and the like do it for me.
—
x100.
It’s all media and if it’s commercial media then, if one paid any attention in middle school, one learned that commercial media has commercial interests at its heart. I subscribe to and read The New Yorker and every time I pour through an article or even complete the crossword I have in my head that “this magazine has ads for Gucci and Cartier and ESG investing firms, it has a bias”. That doesn’t mean that the work of the reporters isn’t astonishingly good, factual and mostly even balanced. I used to get annoyed by how critical they were of Obama even though the critiques were bang on because they were factually based.
#356 Ponzius Pilatus on 01.31.22 at 1:55 pm
#348 IHCTD9 on 01.31.22 at 1:39 pm
#343 Immigrant man on 01.31.22 at 12:57 pm
I’d love to know what would be considered “hard right” in today’s Canada? What would their program be? Anyone willing to shoot (pun intended) a couple of main program points?
___
According to the CBC, you just need to be in the same general vicinity as others labeled as such.
You are better than that. – Garth
——————-
In times like these, people show their true colours.
Just like Sailo.
___
My true colours are: I support the Vaccines, I am multi-jabbed, wear a mask, disinfect my hands 20X+ per day, I got myself tested for Covid anytime I showed symptoms, and self-isolated every time it was required. No one in my household has had so much as a sniffle since mid 2019.
And I support the truckers.
I believe Sail is more or less the same (albeit neutral/apathetic on the convoy).
Don’t bother trying to figure it out Ponzie.
The CBC comment was a joke…
#359 Faron on 01.31.22 at 2:13 pm
#345 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 1:22 pm
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4
You effing clown.
——–
Ouch. Maybe it’s just me, but that does not feel like respectful, wide-ranging discussion.
Almost abusive and obscene.
Abusers often don’t recognize they abuse. Jesus loves you, my son.
Ponzie – just a heads up, the next comment after the CBC one re: putting 100K into cement and rebar was also a joke.
@Sail Away on TSLA:
N.S.S.
#116 Faron on 01.26.22 at 3:19 pm
Could this be a SAGI too? So many gifts.
But TSLA is oversold and earnings will be hot. It’s never easy folks.
Narrator: it was. TSLA slid massively after earnings for a nice short term short trade AKA a SAGI.
#203 Faron on 01.27.22 at 8:33 pm
And with that, TSLA will rip face tomorrow.
Only one guy with a Nazi flag? really?
https://twitter.com/bgrantcampbell/status/1487474451478466565?s=21
https://imgur.com/a/NIVROeG
https://twitter.com/SilentiumAuream/status/1487514957327609858?s=20&t=3hc30-1yHO5j7dgWjo4siQ
https://twitter.com/Justin_Ling/status/1487641537915797510
https://twitter.com/Justin_Ling/status/1487667177461321728?s=20
https://twitter.com/justin_ling/status/1487889846735675397?s=21
If you have 10 people sitting around a table and a Nazi joins them, well now you have 11 Nazis in my book.
In a world without leadership, it’s every man for himself
Trudeau is now in the position of equating 54% of Canadians with white supremacists.
https://torontosun.com/news/national/majority-of-canadians-want-covid-restrictions-lifted-poll
The IQ level on this blog is sinking fast. – Garth
Thank you Garth! Great post and love your responses to comments.
#306 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 10:36 am
Just a short thought on masks after watching interviews yesterday:
—
Also this:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118
All of these articles were published a year ago you goob. If masks didn’t work or increased transmission as you are suggesting (based on your own speculation) we would know about it by now.
I’m going to generalize here: this is why engineers receive and apply knowledge from physicists, chemists, atmospheric scientists, hydrologists: they are completely ill equipped to do the work to do research. This is fine, it’s not their job. Division ov labour helps everyone.
So, maybe you should be taking your own advice and keeping to your “station”. :eye roll:
Idiots are dangerous. Eloquent, pompous idiots like Sail Away are even worse.
#366 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 2:40 pm
Ouch. Maybe it’s just me, but that does not feel like respectful, wide-ranging discussion.
Almost abusive and obscene.
Abusers often don’t recognize they abuse. Jesus loves you, my son.
And narcissistic sociopaths don’t recognize that their posts fall into one of two categories.
1) I’m richer than you.
2) I’m better than you.
#366 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 2:40 pm
You got two respectful enough, if testy, replies from me to a comment so ridiculous that it elicited a response from Garth. You replied with an insult and I’m returning the favour x5. Take the L and grow up.
(and, yes, I fully expect you to call me “crazy” in a short while. Who cares.)
#365 IHCTD9 on 01.31.22 at 2:38 pm
I’m actually in agreement with you here that there is a lot of overreach regarding claims of what the truckers do and don’t stand for. I hiked out from the cabin yesterday and saw the news about statue desecration in the CBC and thought it a bit overwrought. I expected to see spray paint or damage.
While I think any Nazi flag-flying is utterly abhorrent, it’s pretty obvious that it was not a support for nazi-ism and implying it is is disingenuous. However, flying a confederate flag is inexcusable in this context.
Garth: comment barrage over unless attacked personally.
Talking about showing true colours…
“effing clown” fits like a glove…must’ve looked in a mirror.
If I smell diesel fumes all day will I get diarrhea of the mouth like so many commenters today?
End the restrictions.
So say 54% of Canadians.
https://torontosun.com/news/national/majority-of-canadians-want-covid-restrictions-lifted-poll
@#353 and 356 Pope Ponzie the Perfect Prefect.
Does being 100% correct 100% of the time ever get boring?
#339 Shawn on 01.31.22 at 12:47 pm
Traveling back to Canada today from Maui. They almost rejected our PCR tests because the file we had was not showing our date of birth. Luckily the west jet agent was familiar with the medical company we used and was able to drill down to find date of birth after 5 stressful minutes. Arrive Canada app is also a big pain with loads of questions.”
——————————-
I had a PCR test in WA state in November; the results/test omitted the time of test and the Cdn border officer didn’t seem to care. Obviously one day is close enough to the 72-hour rule. And the ArriveCAN app blew up on Question 14, so I couldn’t edit/complete it. Lots of complaints on ArriveCAN app customer reviews.
At the border I complained about ArriveCAN to the officer. He said “yeah, we’ve had lots of complaints about it”. Showing my frustration, I replied “then fix it, or kill it!” He said “yes, ma’am, have a nice drive home.”
DELETED
#374 Ustabe on 01.31.22 at 3:02 pm
#366 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 2:40 pm
Ouch. Maybe it’s just me, but that does not feel like respectful, wide-ranging discussion.
Almost abusive and obscene.
Abusers often don’t recognize they abuse. Jesus loves you, my son.
——–
And narcissistic sociopaths don’t recognize that their posts fall into one of two categories.
1) I’m richer than you.
2) I’m better than you.
——–
I don’t think he’s one of those. True narcissistic sociopaths are quite rare. Although a taste for lusty social media clickbait might lead one to believe that narcs of every persuasion lurk nefariously behind every bush, it’s just not the case.
Enough about that. Not sure if I mentioned, but I picked up a mid-6 figure art piece the other day. No biggie. Sort of an impulse buy. It was in Colorado, so I popped down in my private jet and back the same day. Nobody else can do that, of course, but I have this special arrangement.
DELETED
@#110 WUL on 01.31.22 at 12:03 am
WUL. Yer postin’ on the saturday thread.
Grievous Angel a favourite of mine. Gram Parsons left us too soon. Loved that high lonesome sound he and Emmylou recorded on Love Hurts.
You make some really excellent points. Actually, your observations are what I would have hoped that Trudeau would have made today instead of his usual washed out and wimpy contributions.
Sadly, I think that the usual Canadian tolerance and forbearance is not effective against these demonstrators.
They need to be shown that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and they need to face real consequences for this outlandish show of unrestrained bad behaviour.
Our assorted political leaders have for the most part not shown any real desire to clamp down on this sort of behaviour. I believe that not clamping down is a big mistake.
People should be able to speak out about things, but they should not be allowed to destroy property, deface buildings, statues and memorials and they should not be allowed to get away with harassing and threatening anyone – including the police.
As for the behaviour of Erin O’toole and the that Bernier idiot – well – those two deserve to be pelted with rotten fruit by a justifiable angry Ottawa public. (A personal sidenote: the one and only client that refused to pay me belongs to the Bernier group of fools party)
I seriously hope that Otoole is booted as conservative leader. What a big dummy.
The whole issue of to vax or not to vax boils down to doit for yourself, do it for the Greater Good.
You pointed out that we now are forced to send our pets in to the vet by themselves from the parking lot. Thank you stupid anti-vaxers. I am very reticent to send my cat in without us. We might have been starting to get back to regular vet visits if it wasn’t for these idiots who are against vaccines.
I believe that we should have the right to make our own life decisions where those decisions affect US. for example we should have the right to assisted death if WE want that. That does not really affect the rest of the population. Refusing to get vaccinated for a very transmitable disease DOES affect the rest of the population. So we should darn well get vaccinated.
Every hospital bed taken up by a covid sick anti-vaxxer is a hospital bed that is not there for someone who really needs it.
I really wish that Trudeau would adopt a no-tolerance stance for this demonstration. I wish he would get the army involved and just drive those idiots out of Ottawa with tanks if necessary.
I further wish that they all get charged with trespass, hooliganism, mischief, assault, gathering without permits and defacing public property.
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRuS3dxKK9U
“I want you to get mad!”
#376 Faron on 01.31.22 at 3:12 pm
Garth: comment barrage over unless attacked personally.
——-
Also Faron: “Idiots are dangerous. Eloquent, pompous idiots like Sail Away are even worse.”
And again: “I pity your lack of ability to do a deep or even a deepish dive on anything. Literally anything. What a freaking clown.”
More: “You effing clown.”
——-
Rarely has anyone wielded such a large shovel so elegantly.
Why, o why would such well-reasoned and respectful arguments result in personal attacks? Any who would disagree with this intellectually stimulating banter must surely be a cur… nay, a cad, of the lowest sort.
And you like this stuff, Garth?
Reading the comments on this blog is akin to some of the behaviors of the truckers. Deep down, us commenters all pieces of $hit.
Og
#388 Sail Away on 01.31.22 at 3:52 pm
Again, you had two respectful enough responses and chose to insult me. Don’t pretend otherwise and stop wasting Garth’s time. Take the L.
Your mask arguments are refuted by hundreds if not thousands of published, peer-reviewed papers. I get to wield the shovel with heavy hands because I have that backing and you have… a concept backed by literally nothing.
You refuse to wade into even the shallowest waters of knowledge and thusly will be ridiculed.
you two clowns need to consider growing up
never too old, kids
#376 Faron on 01.31.22 at 3:12 pm
#365 IHCTD9 on 01.31.22 at 2:38 pm
I’m actually in agreement with you here that there is a lot of overreach regarding claims of what the truckers do and don’t stand for. I hiked out from the cabin yesterday and saw the news about statue desecration in the CBC and thought it a bit overwrought. I expected to see spray paint or damage.
While I think any Nazi flag-flying is utterly abhorrent, it’s pretty obvious that it was not a support for nazi-ism and implying it is is disingenuous. However, flying a confederate flag is inexcusable in this context.
___
Yep. The dumbest thing of all though, is pointing to 4-5 flags or a 2-3 incidents, and then branding a hoard of 10,000 people as supporters of same. It just doesn’t get any dumber than that.
It always happens that way. Look at the millions who participated in BLM marches over the course of a summer. You are quick to brand them all terrorists when the few idiots among them went rogue. – Garth
who?
when the “masks” come off the unmasked
https://www.antihate.ca/holocaust_denier_travelling_canada_building_up_far_right_militia_diagolon_alex_vriend
https://pressprogress.ca/conservative-mp-pictured-with-ex-wexit-campaigner-who-said-covid-19-restrictions-should-be-fought-with-bullets/
https://www.antihate.ca/
Worth asking now and was always worth asking, who owns Covid 19? And or the variants?
Michael Crichton, who wrote many well-researched science fiction novels had strong opinions on why private companies should not be allowed to own diseases.
many people are surprised that governments allow this to happen. If they develop a cure, that’s one thing, but how can a company OWN a disease?
“And none deserve vulgarity, profanity or threats.”
There are exceptions. Randy Hillier comes to mind. Also Jay Hill.
Garth wrote…
The song called our police ‘stormtroopers.’ Do you even know what the means? – Garth
Thanks for pointing that out, I missed the reference. Absolutely know what Stormtroopers are, and lost ancestors to them. And I know how Canada was instrumental in defeating them!
#392 IHCTD9 on 01.31.22 at 4:13 pm
Yep. The dumbest thing of all though, is pointing to 4-5 flags or a 2-3 incidents, and then branding a hoard of 10,000 people as supporters of same. It just doesn’t get any dumber than that.
It always happens that way. Look at the millions who participated in BLM marches over the course of a summer. You are quick to brand them all terrorists when the few idiots among them went rogue. – Garth
—
Indeed. All the more reason to support real journalism that dives deep into events like this. There are numerous stories here. Some (most) are inspiring stories of people getting off their arse and demonstrating in the dead of winter because they are frustrated. Other stories are really awful and more really gross stuff will come to light. We need to hear all of it which is why the demonstrators shutting down media at the rally is unconscionable.
I don’t care if it’s Fox News (however unlikely) National Post, The Walrus or the CBC, good journalists uncover facts that otherwise nobody has time to reveal. They may or may not spin those facts, but they supply them so you can then work the information into your conception of events.
Hard working journalists do a huge service to society. Building discernment to recognize smoke-blowing vs. factual reporting is then the reader’s responsibility.
That said, highlighting some of the worst and giving it more weight is important because the shady aspects can have a large negative impact. The Jan 6th riot was attended by thousands who did no wrong. But, the story of those who did wrong and Trump’s planning around the event and failure to stop it involves few people, but is a critical element to be highlighted. This rally was nowhere close to Jan 6th, but what actually happened and what the motivations are needs to be brought to light.
John Crosbie
Deborah Grey
Lisa Raitt
Jim Flaherty
and
Stephen Harper
DELETED (time to give your mom her laptop back)
If I remember correctly, I said that to get noticed N. American TRUCKERS should park their trucks for 2-3 weeks and show these counties who really matter in this country….. guess what is happening….
cheers
If you disagree so vehemently with anything Garth says, get your own blog, call it SoapBox, and shout to your hearts content. I’m sure your mom would be happy to hear you’re doing something with your life, now if you’d just move out of her basement…
#392 IHCTD9 on 01.31.22 at 4:13 pm
“Yep. The dumbest thing of all though, is pointing to 4-5 flags or a 2-3 incidents, and then branding a hoard of 10,000 people as supporters of same. It just doesn’t get any dumber than that.”
Even though the overwhelming majority of the truckers themselves were obviously not Nazis, it should go without saying that anybody who finds themselves standing beside someone waving a Nazi flag should be thinking long and hard about whether they’re on the correct side of that situation.
Sure, I totally believe they’re not Nazis and they harbor no actual Nazi beliefs, but I’m going to be very skeptical of people who happen to be on the same side as Nazis on an issue of public importance.
oh, forgot to add… there are trucks now forming lines on their way to Washington DC…. and if anyone starts reading… this is actually world wide. many countries are now having truckers shutting down and storming their capitol cities.
cheers
#398 Politicians I really miss
John Crosbie
Deborah Grey
Lisa Raitt
Jim Flaherty
and
Stephen Harper
———————————
Add Rona Ambrose…(though she declined to run).
Garth, you are on the wrong side of history.
#402 SunShowers on 01.31.22 at 4:58 pm
Sure, I totally believe they’re not Nazis and they harbor no actual Nazi beliefs, but I’m going to be very skeptical of people who happen to be on the same side as Nazis on an issue of public importance.
—–
It’s a clumsy metaphor, nothing more, nothing less.
You may not like it, but it appears as though the media and the prime minister love it since they can use it to stoke the fire of division and distract/detract from the real issues at hand.
#2 westsider on 01.30.22 at 2:37 pm
“I don’t have time to watch the protests, I’m too busy working in the ICU, trying to save the lives of the un- vaccinated” said all the doctors and nurses working in the ICUs across Canada.
___________________
Yes…but aren’t there an equal number of un-vaccinated truckers transporting medical supplies across state and provincial borders to save the lives of countless vaccinated patients?
Excellent post. Thank you, Garth. Terry Fox has always been my hero. To see his likeness maligned in such a way by members of this misguided mob was truly disgusting and something I will not soon forget.
Yes Garth – you are on the wrong side of history – too bad ! I am disappointed.
Garth, always the voice of reason
Trudeau: “I’ve attended protests and rallies in the past when I’ve AGREED with the goals, when I supported the people expressing their concerns and issues.”
LOL. He’s not vert bright.
What an embarrassing “leader”.
Three points:
a) The USA has the same mandate fort cross-border truck drivers. The USA won’t change their rules just because some disaffected truckers and political nutbars converge on Ottawa.
b) Covid-19 won’t go away. It is about 10 times as lethal as the flu. Living with it will require repeated vaccinations, masking in most places, much higher standards for indoor ventilation, physical distancing, etc and so and so forth.
c) Protesting against mandates doesn’t affect the covid or any other virus. Viruses don’t care squat about your freedom. They just latch onto your cells and make them churn out more virus. A virus is the perfect parasite.
Oh you are so full of shit. I was there. Were you there? You protecting your fellow politicians I guess. How’s the social credit system going to work with your financial views? Go in hiding with the Charlatan PM we have. You would be in the company you enjoy then.
Another gracious trucker. – Garth
Wow Garth over 400 comments. Should charge 1$ a pop (to be donated to the charities of your choice of course).
Would probably make them much more readable. I now manage to stay away most of the time (as you wisely suggest). About twice a month I can’t help but peak at what the sentiment is in the steerage.
Any data on bots? I think I recall you once publishing that sort of thing.
Seems like quite a few are either from a pay farm in a foreign country or come from 4th grade writing level individuals.
@King of Fartz, post #407:
About 90% of Canadian truckers are vaccinated. I was grocery shopping today and noticed that while a small number of items are in short supply or unavailable, the store shelves were largely full. I say thank you to all truckers who are going about your job transporting those goods instead of taking part in a pointless protest. There are a lot of goods in that store from the U.S.A, so I say thank you to you smart vaccinated truckers for keeping the goods moving.
lumping everyone together about this is misguided. by insulting and accusing someone of something they are not, of having a disgusting view of humanity, you are actually creating a similar sentiment towards that person, in which you are accusing them of… that is hate, anger, resentment. its a little ironic.
I did nothing of the sort, clearly stating there are morons in every large group. Take the blinders off. – Garth