Interesting editorial in the National Post

 Another very interesting editorial in the National Post yesterday. I read it after I wrote my blog yesterday but did consider writing this  but it was a busy day. I agree with Conrad Black a great deal of the time. Sometimes I do not. 

I think the Governor General position in Canada serves a useful purpose. It means the Prime Minister doesn't have to involve his office in the task of being the chief arm of the Crown in Canada which I think is still an important part of our existence because of the Treaties which were signed particularly during the latter part of the 1800s. The object of the Fathers of Confederation was to seal Canada as a unit from sea to sea to sea. The protection of this huge land mass was very much on their minds and the realization that the First Nations would prefer that status but the potential of it being undermined was very large and could crop up at different times and for different reasons in the future. 

The potential of each region in Canada was largely understood by these foresighted individuals who brought together the four colonies in 1867 and it was no mean feat for sure. Bringing Lower and Upper Canada together was a difficult and huge step. Concessions were made to make it possible and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were more similar in terms of history and language to Upper Canada but that has changed through the years I must say having traveled a good deal in the Maritimes and Quebec through my many years of traveling with my husband as he searched for his roots was an eye opener. You could watch the march of the French language into Ontario into New Brunswick at a fairly rapid pace since my childhood and indeed all across Canada - it is a good thing in my humble opinion.

Indeed I babysat for a family in my early teens two doors up and that family was from Quebec (transferred by the bank that he worked for in Quebec to London, Ontario) and those children all spoke French but soon learned English. I think they went back to Quebec ultimately but it was possibly the aim to create a more bilingual bank system capable of managing customers from Ontario or the Maritimes or the west as well.

 So I think the Governor General is a necessity in our country (and has been although I would not have chosen some of the Governor Generals who were chosen but we have had some really excellent Governor Generals). At this time and in this place I think the latest choice of our Governor General to be is an excellent one. My only other choice would have been a member of the First Nations because the connection between the Crown and the First Nations is the very basis of our existence as a country from sea to sea to sea. At this moment the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are both from Alberta in their upbringing with the Prime Minister having experience from Eastern Canada as well as a very world experience in his lifetime of work thus far. So having this French speaking Governor General from Quebec with all of her knowledge of the law (her world knowledge of law particularly apt and is an enormous gift at this time to the people of Canada) is ideal and it was a good choice in my humble opinion. 

But other than that I found his editorial to be timely and lots of good advice. Our view should be outward once again as it was in my childhood - following the Second World War we took in many many people from Europe and particularly Eastern Europe. These people brought us lots of skills and ideas that have helped to make Canada the worldly nation that it is. (As an aside, antisemitism has to disappear from Canada as it is just simply wrong. It hurts us as a people and disturbs our national image of being an accepting people (those causing the events against the Jewish people here in particular take note; if you can not live in our country by our rules then find another home). Our Jewish population has a right to live here without threat and prejudice.) 

Now we just have to get our resources to that world and regain that level of independence that we had when I was a child in the 1940s and 1950s. Becoming a North American market was an interesting idea but we were always getting tariffs slapped on us by earlier presidents as well. We need to diversify our trade and take it to the world where it is wanted and needed. Conrad Black is very right about that. 

A good research day with only fifteen new matches to file away. Today is another beautiful day in God's world and it is Sunday. The sun is shining beautifully and it is already sixteen degrees celsius. A good working in the garden day but first Church and that is soon online. 

 

Busy day not too much done on the matches

 My day yesterday ended up being incredibly busy with little work on the matches as I still have 19 to do. Perhaps today will lead to more matches being accomplished. 

Some time was spent working on a health project that I am involved with which is quite interesting. It involved recall of what I had eaten and all the exercise of which I had partaken the day earlier. The FitBit makes this task quite straightforward actually as it records absolutely everything that I do during a day and a night. I think it is an excellent study and I am happy to be part of it. 

The huge numbers of Baby Boomers (I am actually part of the Quiet Generation born between the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the Baby Boomer generation) have an enormous amount of health information which will benefit the world hugely in the years to come. As a baseline they were born during a period when plastic just wasn't there really in any degree but gradually introduced during their young childhood. Huge changes occurred in how schooling was done as well during this period of the Baby Boomers as the push to go to university dominated over the trades which is an enormous problem now. Health care for all Canadians was introduced during the time period that Baby Boomers existed with no free health care at the beginning and towards the end of the Baby Boomer period free health care was introduced so one gets an interesting picture of the effects of all these happenings examining the health of Baby Boomers in particular because they are such a huge group of people. 

Since I skipped grade four I moved ahead into the group of children born during the war and so the Baby Boomers were two grades behind me  mostly and one observed the effects of this huge group on the schools, on the housing market and on the types of items that were produced and sold due to the effect of this huge child market on the system. 

Canada was a very aggressive country in the 1950s but merging itself into a North American market with trade deals took the edge off of that aggressiveness but the current Prime Minister has brought it back especially with references to our Founding Fathers of Confederation and the earlier heroes of Canada prior to Confederation. 

Whining about affordability (which is a huge problem I realize that) doesn't put food on the table - we need to get the youth working and then affordability problems disappear. Looking forward to the pipeline although I do realize there is a lot of consulting to do on all of that but the playing field has been leveled to make it possible. All of  the projects brought forward are great news for Canada. The Sovereign Wealth Fund is such a good idea and looking forward to more information. Go Canada Go. 

I think if all the members of parliament get out into their constituencies and work with the youth to help them to move on from their stagnated positions in terms of jobs and career goals that would be a good use of their time this summer. Whining doesn't help; it simply doesn't give them a leg up to move forward into well paying jobs that will exist particularly in the trades. 

 Today work on the matches for sure although plans are afoot to do some closet cleaning. I used to take my entire house apart and clean it when I was home (even when I was proofreading it made a good break from sitting hours on end to clean a closet). But at 80 the incentive to do that has to be driven somewhat by others. 

Time for breakfast, tea all drank and calisthenics completed more than an hour ago and I must do my solitaire puzzles.  

 

 

Good try

 Managed two matches yesterday and the rest of the day was spent shopping. My least favourite item to do for sure. However the two matches were interesting and now there are 20 although still a bit to finish off on the second match. 

But the success was a new pair of shoes that actually fit me well and are walk-able immediately although they are a good leather and will need some breakin. The last pair I bought seemed alright but were dreadful once I wore them any distance. They are a good dress shoe and will keep them as such. This new pair (more of an Oxford without ties but a button clasp. So many of our companies ceased to exist due to competition. Lovely piece of leather which will clean well and are polishable. With our dollar low that should help our manufacturing to return to Canada as we are very competitive.  Another piece of equipment wore out and it was the toaster which we replaced but every toaster in the store was ultimately made in China although a number of them carried an American manufacturer's name. I do not know if we make any small appliances these days and it would certainly be a good market item to explore for anyone wanting to set up in business in Canada. There could be lots of improvement in items like toasters to make them more efficient and better at the simple task of toasting bread! 

The hostas are all freed from their weeds and growing nicely. The rain of the last couple of days has made a big difference. The grass is growing but I like to leave the dandelions to grow for a bit and the bees can work them. A good first crop for the bees.

Other than that the day passed quickly running to and fro collecting up various items settling into the summer pattern of walking at the beach, doing research and doing the dreaded gardening. 

The Prime Minister has everything at hand and it appears we have news coming on the pipeline today. The United States has put a tariff on mushrooms coming from Canada into the United States. That is sad for people who like mushrooms and buy them exported from Canada into the United States. Gradually our store shelves are changing here as we make trade deals around the world. It will still be a summer somewhat strained by trade talks but amazingly Canada is slowly coming back into its own and standing alone on the world stage. Fortress North America is rapidly taking shape in the Arctic and indeed North America as the need to be ready for whatever becomes paramount in our minds. 

I still think the only Senate Reform that is needed is increasing the presence of the Territories in the Senate by making them a region with 24 Senators and divide them up as normal perhaps six for the Yukon and nine each for the North West Territories and Nunavut and all of these territories will be a huge part of the new industries to come in Canada. The Senate in Canada is a place of sober thought and discussion with relation to the different areas of Canada and the senators are appointed from distinct areas within these provinces with specific skill sets in their expertise; final decisions on bills are always made in the House of Commons giving us our democratic process as all members are elected that sit in the House. But the Senate has made great additions to bills over time especially as individual members have their finger on the pulse of their area and can provide input that might be missed by members of parliament at least that is the principle. 

More research today and a stay at home day and perhaps if the rain doesn't materialize some more gardening. 

Time for solitaire puzzles. 

 

Back to research

 Some research today as I work on the remaining matches not yet sorted (22 in all). Then on to the Latin wills and working with the AI on my huge great grandparent file to see what that gives me in terms of moving every match back to the great grandparent level. 

I did find that one of the Canadian government websites has an excellent page on the treaties and how they came to be.  My recitation regarding Rupert's Land was primarily what I learned as a child from my uncle who learned it from his father who had talked with his mother's first cousin Sir John Carling. The need to consult with First Nations beforehand stands out strongly in the pages on the government website:   https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100028568/1529354090684

 That my thoughts are strongly influenced by my English heritage does show strongly likely. But I discovered on the trip with my daughter to Rome in 2001 that I was very Canadian (we learned Italian to go to Italy (spent over four months every day working on that in the evenings whereas the rest of the group said to us they will just speak English when we first met at dinner)). In 2001 in Italy few people spoke English we did discover. I found if I couldn't remember the Italian word and put in the French word that worked. But coming from a multilingual country the need to learn another language is strong here. One doesn't really realize how Canadian one is until one returns to the only other designation that could be attached to me which is my 100% English (England) heritage. I have so many Canadian characteristics as I discovered when we stayed at the Monastery in Rome near the Vatican with other members of the World-Wide Anglican group that had been invited to the Consecration of the Episcopal Bishop of Europe (from the United States, England, Australia and Canada (the two of us)). A wondrous event and greatly appreciated the invitation. My daughter accompanied me because I had never flown to Europe before indeed I had never flown before at all. My husband did not wish to fly across the ocean back in 2001 but move forward to 2008 and once again I was determined to fly to England and spend a few days with my cousin Ivan and his wife. Edward finally decided to fly across the ocean. He flew across the land many many times in his working life but just didn't want to fly over the ocean. First trip he was sold and I would say the remaining trips were primarily at his suggestion and we did quite a few over the next ten years. Europe was his destination principally since he was 30% German 30% Dutch 20% French and much smaller percentages of Scot/English, Scandinavian, Polish, Swiss and a couple of others. In all he was about 65 to 70% Germanic. He had blond (darkened a little in adulthood when I first knew him) hair and blue eyes showing that Germanic background very strongly. His first ancestors to the now United States were Dutch in New Amsterdam/New York and Albany in the early 1620s (and indeed before that period as well). 

Another beautiful day in God's world. A lot of rain yesterday - God's tears for humankind perhaps to my thoughts. We must struggle harder to follow His commandments - Love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and love our neighbour as ourself. 

Drinking tea and solitaire puzzles to do.  

 

Second cleaning day completed

 A busy day yesterday cleaning the main floor and gardening. Today it is going to rain so no gardening but the top floor is going to be cleaned. I will start in an hour or so. 

No work on the matches yesterday; the day simply flew by and was hardly more than fifty metres from the house. The City cleaned the streets yesterday I think it was and the big truck was as usual sitting in front of my house so my street part is not cleaned. I really do find this excessive parking in front of my house to be somewhat unfair to put it mildly. He treats it like his laneway and when the truck needs to be moved and he isn't there then one is stuck with that. I have had a number of incidences where I am asked to move my truck and I say it isn't mine it belongs to that house over there. I  have seen them knock on the door and get no answer. They should have to pay more taxes for using up this spot. 

The orchid is about to bloom. Unfortunately I took it out in the cold two months ago and it lost five of those blooms to be but two survived and are slowly getting ready to open. These were Edward's favourite flowers and this non-green thumb person has managed to keep them alive this long. They are actually doing very well as we re-potted them in March with fresh special violet earth.  

I am now down to 22 matches to do which means I accomplished more than I realized the other day. It will be good to have that complete and I do aim to have them all done before the first of the month as that is going to be the day that I check the matches. I am hoping that I can maintain that sort of organization to keep up with any new matches. 

 I watched the television coverage of the individual said to be responsible for the data breach in Alberta of voter's personal information. Why do people do that - aside from being illegal it is an incredibly ignorant thing to do to release people's personal information (having lived through that); one wonders if he is born in Canada or is he an immigrant now citizen (as a first generation Canadian on my father's side and fourth generation Canadian on my mother's side I do tend to look at people that way). The crucial part perhaps one wonders who is paying him as he isn't known it would appear in terms of being wealthy?  They need deep pockets to buy Alberta - if Greenland is worth 30 trillion dollars then Alberta where the valuables are easier to extract is worth at least the same or more simply because everything is easier to extract but the one problem I suppose is that it is landlocked although one can fly out of there. Greenland is roughly 3x larger than Alberta but the ability to operate in Alberta certainly much easier than Greenland. But Greenland does have external water access. But still I would think one is looking at 30 trillion minimum and likely higher considering all of the raw materials in Alberta. I would question living in such a country that somebody bought as their attitude would be rather dictatorial I would suggest. Mind you the ability to buy Alberta is pretty low (thirty trillion dollars is a lot of money) as the First Nations would also have to be consulted. It is called Free Enterprise (we, Canada bought it) - a facet of that very democracy being called upon and we bought it with 100% respect for the treaties with the First Nations and those guaranteed rights to the First Nations in those treaties. 

 In the meantime the vibes for the new pipeline are becoming stronger one might say. Shovels in the ground is what I want to see. That Pierre Polievere makes no attempt to get along with the Prime Minister and both are from Alberta this will end up being a Liberal show when the pipeline is getting built. The Conservatives will be lucky to win an election for many years at this rate. The parties worked together to make Canada great in the 1800s (oh sure they had their spats but their attitude was totally to make Canada freestanding and perfect and not dependent on anyone else). 

Go Canada Go. Bring on the Sovereign Wealth Fund and let us get this show on the road. A hint to the Premier of Ontario to get  the Trans Canada Highway widened through the northern part of Ontario. There is more to Ontario than the Greater Toronto Area which on and off includes Niagara and areas close by. Having grown up in southwestern Ontario it appears that the only way to get things done by the Provincial Government is to mention Toronto in some way in the request. I do normally vote Conservative but I do know their shortcomings. 

I am not actually watching the news but the individual who used the personal data of voting Albertans happened to be on when I switched the television on to watch the weather. So I watched that somewhat incredulously considering he has caused so many people a good deal of pain. One could judge his societal payback in terms of the pain he has inflicted I would think; we are a democracy for all the people. Money does go a long way on occasion. 

 Time to do my solitaire puzzles and then cleaning.