Opposition blasts Harper over Greek remark!!!!!!

Another dumb move by the Conservative government that should be ousted out of power, Harper needs to be voted out of power!!!!! I say the next election, we Canadians vote for the Liberal Party and put in a party we can trust to not discriminate any ethnic group!!

CTV.ca News Staff
An opposition MP is accusing the prime minister of slighting Greeks, after a bizarre exchange between Stephen Harper and a Bloc Quebecois MP in the House of Commons. During question period on Wednesday, Bloc MP Michel Guimond asked Harper why his deputy press secretary, Dimitri Soudas, tried to intervene in a dispute between Public Works and a Montreal developer called Rosdev Group in 2006.

Conservative party fundraiser Leo Housakos, who now sits on the board of Via Rail, also tried to intervene in the dispute around the same time. "The prime minister cannot plead ignorance concerning what Mr. Housakos did," said Guimond. "It was his own government that appointed him to Via Rail. In that context, can the prime minister tell us whether he himself has met Mr. Housakos at 24 Sussex, his official residence?"

Harper shot back in French: "The Bloc member mentioned two people who are of Greek origin: one who was an employee here in Ottawa, another one who is a supporter of the Conservative party in Montreal. The fact that (there's) two Montreal gentlemen of Greek origin doesn't mean there's a conspiracy here." Liberal MP John Cannis, who is Greek-Canadian, rose on a point of order and demanded that Harper "apologize publicly to each and every Greek-Canadian."
He said Harper's comment "put a black mark on the over half-a-million Greek-Canadians that played even a small role in the development of this great country. The prime minister insulted the entire Greek community."

Cannis later told CTV's Mike Duffy Live that Harper had no need to mention the ethnicity of Housakos and Soudas. "I was very angry as a proud Greek-Canadian," said Cannis. "I could not understand why the prime minister had to attach his response to any ethnicity, not matter what the ethnicity may be."

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe later told reporters that he was surprised by Harper's response, considering his party's questions had nothing to do with the men being Greek-Canadian.
"There is no link between the fact those people are from Greek origin. None at all," he said.
Opposition parties have questioned why Public Works took legal action against Rosdev to acquire a building in Ottawa. The Conservatives said a lawsuit was the only way to deal with several lingering disputes with the developer.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail, Soudas organized a meeting in PMO offices in August 2006, "asking whether it was possible to come to a mediated solution."
Conservative MP Jason Kenney, secretary of state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity, said he dismissed the incident as a "classic non-story."

"Nothing happened. The government has continued with its current position in the courts against the developer," he said. "A meeting was had but no one gained anything. There is not the appearance of a conflict of interest." Soudas spoke to reporters Wednesday and said he was only doing his job. "There was no interference," he said.

"For those who choose to serve the public, in the spirit of transparency, looking into a file makes common sense. The file was looked into. As you may have noticed, the issue was before the courts at the time, it remains before the courts today. Basically, no favours were exchanged," he said.

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc said officials must look into the possibility of government interference in the legal dispute.

"You have an organizer who has been appointed to the board of Via Rail -- probably because of his life-long experience in passenger rail experience," he said sarcastically. "You have political staffers from the Prime Minister's Office summon political staffers from Public Works to a meeting ... None of this is routine, none of this is normal.

"If the developer was interested in negotiating a solution, he probably doesn't go through Conservative fundraisers and PMO staff members. It's probably done through the lawyers."

This is BS, why issue a warning against Canada!!!

This is horrible and it will affect our tourist industry a great deal. I have no idea what so ever had possessed Australia to put out a warning against Canada of all places in the world. Take a read below of what I got off ctv.ca. If we were to send out some travel advisories then I would send one out for Canadians to stay away from Mexico as there has been so many suspicious deaths that have taken place!!!

A website run by the Australian government lists Canada as a country where travellers need to be cautious about terrorism, dangerous winter driving and cold weather conditions. The 'Smart Traveller' website, run by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, lists Chile, South Korea and Latvia as countries safer than Canada.

Overall, Canada is listed in the second safest category (out of five categories) on the website -- the 'Exercise caution' section. Out of the G8 nations, the U.S., U.K, France, Germany and Italy also are listed in the 'Exercise caution' category.

"We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Canada because of the risk of terrorist attack," says the travel advisory. "Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks."

The website says "heavy snowfalls and ice in the winter" can also make driving dangerous. "The wind-chill factor can also create dangerously cold outdoor conditions," says the warning. B.C. and Alberta are both listed as being subject to avalanches. B.C. is also listed as "an active earthquake zone."

Meanwhile, travellers heading to Canada between May and September are also told to look out for tornadoes in some areas. The website further warns about bush and forest fires which "can occur any time in Canada."

The advisory says crime in Canada is comparable to that in Australia, with petty crime such as pick pocketing and street theft occurring at tourist destinations and hotels. Japan has the safest ranking of the G8 nations, falling into the first category, 'Be alert to own security.' Russia is listed as the most dangerous of the G8 countries, ranking in the third category -- 'High degree of caution.'

On the website for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, there is no official warning for Australia. However, travellers are advised to watch out for pickpockets and to avoid demonstrations because they could "turn violent." There are also warnings for backpackers about attacks and travellers are advised not to accept food and drinks from strangers at bars.

LEAFS NEED SOME BIG WINS THIS COMING WEEK-END!!!!

Its been almost a year since the last time I posted on this blog, the Leafs have gone through heavy turmoil and are struggling once more to make the play-offs. The captain Mats Sundin may be moved come the trade deadline on February 26, 2008. I sincerely hope the Leafs can win the two big games on Saturday against the Sabres and the game on Sunday against the Devils. All I can say is lets get behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, Leafs Nation rejoice and lets cheer our men into the play-offs!!!!!