17 people, have been arrested after a sting operation by: C.S.I.S. (Cdn. Security Intelligence Service), and the Mounties. They were charged with various offenses under the Criminal Code pertaining to terrorism. That happened Saturday.

I'm not surprised, and I think most Canadians aren't surprised; we knew we were on the list, and the majority of us have accepted that. What I am disturbed at, is the fact that these were some of us; fellow Canadians that did this- it feels like a slap in the face to me as a Canadian, and to those who are waiting to become Canadians. To use, such an incredible gift as citizenship in Canada to destroy Canadian society is just incredibly treasonous to say the least.

Now today we hear word that one of the accused allegedly said he wanted to behead the Prime Minister, and storm Parliament. I was shocked at that; I'd been expecting: The CN Tower, Air Canada Centre, and Skydome (which geographically are located right along the same block), maybe the stock exchange, and a couple office towers as targets. But allegedly planning to behead a Prime Minister? I'm no scholar here, but when a citizen of a country plots to do something like that, isn't it called treason? or in this case: Alleged, or attempted treason?

Note: The Prime Minister, and Parliament buildings are in Ottawa Ontario- approx 4 hrs by train, or 6 hrs by car away from Toronto. The Provincial legislature in Ontario is at Queen's Park- the current Premier: Dalton McGuinty.

Questions are being raised as to whether or not these gentlemen will get a fair trial because of the media attention. I say yes, because I believe that despite being angered, and violated like this, Canadians have an inherent sense of fairness and will give them a fair trial.

I really think it doesn't matter so much that these people are Muslims, but it's that they're Canadian that is the kicker.

Well, we did it. We actually changed our government, an shifted right. Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party won a total of 124 seats out of the 308 seats in Parliament- not a majority by any means, but still enough to give him a minority government.
What this means, isn't that he'll be George W. Bush's new ally, nor does it mean that he'll govern from the extreme right as feared. It just means that he'll have a shot to implement some changes in Canada.

As for what this means for Canada's recently adopted Gay Marriage legislation: Yes, Harper has promised to re-open the matter, and to have a free vote on whether or not to adopt a traditional definition of marriage. But with the numbers the way they are (NDP at 29 seats, Bloc at 50 seats, and Liberals at 104 seats), it is highly doubtful at best. And if it does go through- in order to pass a peice of legislation it has to have 3 readings in the Senate before recieving Royal Assent. And with the Senate being controlled by the Liberals that could take years to change it. This gay marriage issue has more to do with Harper wanting to appease more right-wing members of his party, nothing more.

It's been a decade since the last Quebec Referendum. A decade since the No side barely won. Have things changed?

Yes, and no. Yes, because we now courtesy of Jean Chretien have the Clarity act- (yes I am aware of the humour: Chretien in the same sentence as clarity) which demands a clear question on the ballot next time. Quebec is now also recognized as a unique society.

No: Because after the last referendum, Jean Chretien saw fit to establish the 'Unity fund' which was used to fund special projects in Quebec. Long story short: the money was through ad agencies funneled back into party coffers. Over decade it totalled: 300 million; the vast majority of that money has still not been found. Because of this, there is a lot of anger in Quebec- so much that the Bloc Quebecois could get as many as 60 of 75 seats that Quebec has in the next parliament.

Related to this is the fact that Quebec's current Premier wants to lay the groundwork for the province to sign the constitution.

Will it finally end the bickering?

Who knows, such an asupicious event is a long way off yet I think.

People are going to be on top of me for this one. Canada's newest Governor-General is: Michele Jean a 48 year old Hatian-Canadian from Quebec, a journalist with the CBC in both English and French. She's a good choice- the first black person to take the post, an eleqouent, and educated woman. It's just- she's from Quebec: Now, I have nothing against the province- it's beautiful, and a very important part of Canada. The appointment just smacks of partisanship. If anybody follows the news in any way the Liberal party have been in trouble in Quebec over the Sponsorship Scandal for quite sometime, and the appointment of Mme. Jean- also the first Quebecker to take the post in 21 years just smacks of an obvious attempt to keep Quebec under their thumb to me.