Just as mysteriously as it disappeared this blog is back and available for me to post on it. After many attempts to get an explaination as to why my space was temporarily unavailable. on Friday 13th, Live Spaces wrote: "We have found your Space to be in violation of the Windows Live Spaces Code of Conduct as it contains images involving personal information. As this violation is serious in nature, we were forced to close down your Space." It is nice to be back. All the albums are complete including the one with the image of my dad’s Certificate of Registration which I thought might be the problem. The only things missing are any blogs I posted after December 12, 2008. The 23/07/2008 post, New dim sum place, does not appear on the main blog page page but is there in the categories. Why is it only in the Food and Drink category and not on the main page or in the December archive? By way of explanation of what happened, on my profile page there was a note that Lives Spaces had improved my photos. I have to admitted the photos somehow do look better especially the one in my profile. Can't help but wonder if some hacker had added an image to one of the missing posts or in the comments. I am restricting comments and notes to family, friends and those in my network (some of you will have received an invitation to join my network) hopefully to prevent any new malicious additions.

Drove my wife, Pat up to Fergus February 7, 2009, on an errand and decided to finally try the haggis at the Breadalbane Inn, From their menu: “haggis ~ a traditional Scottish dish. made with the following ingredients: sheep’s ‘pluck’ (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onions, oatmeal, spices and mixed with stock. haggis is traditionally served with “neeps and tatties” (Scots: turnip and potato), each of these being mashed separately.” I’ve had haggis before - prepared from frozen at home - and like it; but, this was something extra ordinary. The scotch whiskey gravy/sauce made it so. I also liked how it came as a chunky stew it is much nicer than the fine ground filling in the sausages or sheeps stomack. I definitely am going back for more! The haggis is worth the trip to Fergus!

I’d like to make four points in answer to criticism of the proposed coalition:

1. In Canada we do NOT elect a Prime Minister, we elect a Parliament.  Parliament then decides which group has the confidence of the House to govern and that group’s leader becomes Prime Minister.
2. The Bloc ran in the last election NOT as separatist but as an anti CPC (stop Harper) choice. They received more than 50% of the vote in Quebec.  Quebec is very much a part of Canada and this Quebec anti CPC vote must be included in the Canadian totals.
3. Over 60 % of the Canadian electorate all across Canada (yes there are both Liberal and NDP seats west of Ontario and in all of the Western ridings not held by the CPC one or the other ran second). The proposed coalition represents a majority of all Canadians; Harper’s Conservatives do NOT.  The House has both a moral and legal right to place its confidence in the proposed coalition. Talk of a coup d’état is nonsense!
4. In the economic update and the accompanying proposed legislation, Harper showed what the CPC would do if it had a majority. He was behaving very aggressively and uncooperatively.  Canada thoroughly rejected this right wing platform in denying him a majority; Canadians wanted a working minority government to hold the CPC’s right wing in check.  In a minority government the governing group has to work with the other parties and make compromises.  Harper’s tactics last week make it impossible for this House to work with him.  He and his PMO have to go! At the very least turn over the CPC to the moderates in the party.

I think Harper is anti-parliamentary democracy or maybe he just doesn’t understand it.  In a parliamentary system the Prime Minister has to have the confidence of the House to govern. It is the House of Commons that picks the Prime Minister not the party or the voters! Harper’s past and present government is marked by disrespect for parliament and attempts to “get around” parliament.  Harper’s strict muzzling of his own backbenchers is a symptom of his disrespect for parliament and members of parliament. He was and is trying to govern as if he were President. Doesn’t he realize that nearly 63% of the electorate DID NOT vote for the CPC? I support a coalition to replace Harper and perhaps an election after a new Liberal leader is elected. The present CPC government must go!

I think the Bloc, Liberals and NDP should go to the Governor General with the same statement modified for 2008 that Harper agreed to in 2004; “As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal (change to CPC) minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38^th (change to 40^th) Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.”

I understand from the Ontario experience in 1985 that the Bloc needs only to sign an agreement that it will not vote for any non confidence motions aimed at the coalition government for a specified period.  I think they can agree to that if the coalition agrees in writing that it will respect the rights of Quebec and well not do anything that would hurt the interests of Quebec.

Hey how about a preamble to any agreement to form a coalition government with BLOC support.  Something like this: “We a coalition of Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party stand for peace, welfare and good government. We undertake to respect Quebec’s status as a nation within Canada and Quebec’s and Canada’s interests. We believe that Canada is facing a very grave financial situation and that fiscal stimuli must be introduced forthwith for the public benefit and welfare of all Canadians.”

The motion (which passed) discussed in my blog of 22/04/2008, Blessing same-gender unions motion calls for the bishop to "authorize an appropriate rite and make regulations for its use in supportive parishes."  We Anglicans already have an appropriate rite for blessing civil unions. I recently discovered The Canadian Book of Occasional Offices; services for certain occasion not provided in the book of common prayer.  Published at the request of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada and compiled by the Most Reverend Harold E. Sexton, Archbishop of British Columbia, in 1964. On page 109 there is “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage.”  While technically it is not for same-gender unions it is easier to modify an existing rite than to create a new one.

A new Chinese Restaurant has just had its grand opening, Delightful Cantonese Cuisine (869 Victoria St. Kitchener, ON N2B 3C3).  I’ve already been twice for lunch.  The first time I had something from its lunch specials menu: fried tofu and beef with black pepper sauce.  Lunch includes choice of wonton soup or hot and sour soup, a spring roll and steamed rice. This restaurant cooks up very good Cantonese style food.  Cantonese style is the style one found most often in high end (like Kwong Chow and Lichee Gardens in Toronto) Chinese restaurants of the 1950s and 1960s.  North American Chinese, the style investigated in the book "Fortune cookie chronicles," is mostly derived from it.  Authentic Cantonese however, is not "greasy" spoon but a fine dining cuisine.  This place does it well and the service is attentive. It definitely brings back memories of my growing up in Toronto's downtown Chinatown.  I just had to go back to try its dim sum. They have all my favourites, deep fried squid tentacles, turnip cake, char sui bao, pot stickers, sticky rice in lotus leaf, har gow, shrimp dumpling, and shrimp shu mai.  They were out of tentacles because of the number ordered at their official opening on Sunday but they fried me up some squid bodies - done perfectly, tender, not a hint of the rubbery texture you get if not done right. The sticky rice with meat in lotus leaf is every bit as good as Chrystal Palace's (which James and I think are the best in the Region.) The shrimp rolls as good as Cameron's; all the dim sum was good. But really outstanding was the radish cake (the correct name for turnip cake); it was served cubed on a bed of lightly fried bean sprouts and onions.  I'm going to come back often just for these wonderful radish cakes.  One thing that really brought back memories was the red hot sauce beside the hot Chinese mustard in a yin yang circle. in the 50s and 60s, all the Chinese restaurants used to put such a red and yellow filled dish on the table.  That hot mustard is wonderful with barbecued pork; it also works with dim sum.

I have been asked what my opinion is on marriages where the husband and wife don’t intend to conceive children, or where one of the potential parents is infertile. I think the question of whether a couple doesn't want or can't have children is irrelevant to the question of a rite for same sex unions and to what Holy Matrimony is about. The BCP's main prayer (admittedly omitted where the woman is past child-bearing age) reads, " O MERCIFUL Lord, and heavenly Father by whose gracious blessing mankind is increased: Bestow, we beseech thee, on these thy servants the heritage and gift of children, and grant that they may also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen." The whole sacramental rite of Holy Matrimony is aimed at family - father, mother and children - mirroring the Holy Family in heaven. Holy matrimony is so much more than a loving couple living a life in service of God. The Epistle is Colossians 3.15 which talks of husbands loving their wives and children obeying their parents and fathers not provoking their children.

Quotations

· "Each individual's journey through life is unique. Some will make this journey alone, others in loving relationships - maybe in marriage or other forms of commitment. We need to ponder our own choices and try to understand the choices of others. Love has many shapes and colors and is not finite. It can not be measured or defined in terms of sexual orientation." From the Statement of Affirmation and Reconciliation by the Quaker meeting in Aotearoa.

· "Marriage is a union between one man and one woman, designed of God to last so long as they both shall live." From the Westminster Confession of Faith – approved by the General Assembly 1647

While I support my government’s decision to allow same-sex marriages through the civil process, I am not comfortable with fully equating it with an Anglican Church marriage. Civil marriages were initiated by man through the state while church marriages were instituted by God and therefore are sacred, holy and central to the community of the Church.

Marriage was adopted by Christians from Jewish practice. Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding in Cana where he turned water into wine. He was blessing an existing practice, not initiating something new. This Cana marriage was truly sealed by God and was a sign of the love uniting Christ and his Church.

I have some misgivings about the motion which has been placed on the agenda for this year’s Diocese of Huron synod;

MOTION CONCERNING THE BLESSING

OF SAME GENDER MARRIAGES

Preamble:

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada has affirmed the integrity and sanctity of same-gender unions, and has resolved that the blessing of same-gender unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada. With that in mind, we the people of the Diocese of Huron believe that we are being called to move forward in a caring and loving way to include the faithful gay and lesbian couples of our Church by blessing their loving and committed marriages.

Respecting the positions of those within our Church who cannot agree with the blessing of same-gender unions, for theological reasons and as a matter of conscience,

 

Moved: The Rev'd Greg Little Seconded by: Maureen Campbell

Be it resolved:

That this Synod request the Bishop grant permission to clergy, whose conscience permits, to bless the duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-gender couples, where at least one party is baptized; and that the Bishop authorize an appropriate rite and make regulations for its use in supportive parishes.

Not all of "we the people of the Diocese of Huron" believe we are being called to bless same-sex unions. If we were truly being called by God then the issue would not be tearing our church apart. A call is uniting, never divisive. It’s more likely we are being called to come up with a statement of affirmation and reconciliation with the world-wide Anglican Communion.

In the early undivided church, there was no appropriate rite initiated either by God or by man for blessing same-sex unions. The Anglican sacramental rite of Holy Matrimony is not appropriate. Holy Matrimony confers on the heterosexual couple the grace they need for attaining holiness in their married life. It consecrates them for the mission of building the Church family, which includes the responsible acceptance and upbringing of their children. The rite provides grace for accomplishing that mission. Same-sex civil unions, lacking the ability to conceive children, do not have the same mission as a heterosexual marriage. The Canadian civil marriage gives the same-sex marriage all the civil rights and privileges of a heterosexual marriage, but it does not give a mission.

I am not opposed to blessing such civil contracts as a same-sex marriage; but keep them in context and bless all personal contracts and friendships. I am opposed to establishing an "appropriate rite" for blessing same-sex marriages in isolation from the full Canadian Anglican Community. No Synod or Bishop on its own should initiate a new rite, especially if not based either in scripture or in the early church, in isolation from the whole Church.

I feel the motion needs to be amended by removing "authorize an appropriate rite and make regulations for its use in supportive parishes." You don’t need such a rite or regulations to bless a contract or friendship if that is all you are doing – blessing a loving relationship. The blessing should be a simple blessing, part of a regular service welcoming the new couple into the parish, that bestows nothing new and simply blesses a loving couple and their civil union. Don’t make it a back door to full Holy Matrimony status. Replace "

that the Bishop authorize an appropriate rite and make regulations for its use in supportive parishes" with "that the Bishop authorize an appropriate prayer or blessing and allow for its use in supportive parishes."

Two articles in today's (April 15, 2008) Waterloo Region Record caught my eye.  Ottawa to pay pork producers to kill off pigs as market collapses announces that Ottawa will pay pig farmers up to $50 million to slaughter their breeding pigs if they agree to wipe out their entire herd and stay out of the hog business for three years. Ottawa hopes to reduce the glut and bring prices back up.  Global food crisis may wipe out seven years of progress  reports on "a rapidly escalating global food crisis..[reaching]..emergency proportions..."  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for "short-term emergency measures...to meet urgent food needs and avoid starvation and longer-term efforts to significantly increase production..."  I hope I'm not the only one to see a serious problem with Ottawa's hog policy in light of the global food crisis. These are breeding hogs that could be used in areas of the world where people are starving, to help them raise food to lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. Why waste all these hogs?  Why not send them to subsistence farmers in the Third World?  Surely there are philanthropic organizations that would pick up the shipping costs. Our hog farmers might feel better about a solution to Canada's hog glut if they could actually help alleviate the global food crisis.  Much better than slaughtering all those hogs.

Just this week a CBC radio commentator suggested putting drop off boxes for spent batteries in Toronto libraries.  The municipality then would contribute $0.05 to the library board for every spent battery deposited in the collection box.  Hey it would keep spent batteries out of land fill.  Surely citizens would welcome this opportunity to contribute directly to the library's budget.  It would have to be over and above what the cities normally contribute to the public library.  Very good idea don't you think?

Some more thoughts on clearing of snow and ice from City of Kitchener streets..

                The walks of those who do not comply with the by-law will not get shovelled for a least a few days after a major snowfall.  Home and business owners have 24 hours after the snowfall ends to clear their sidewalks.  Then someone has to report them, another day or two. Then a by-law enforcement officer visits and issues a warning, yet another day or two.  The walk can go un-shovelled for up to a week by which time there can be yet another major snow fall and we start over. This definitely does not help the physically challenged nor Councillor Geoff Lorentz’s mail person colleagues..

                Then there is the problem of what to do with owners who are in hospital or on vacation during a big snow or ice storm.  Do they deserve a whopping big fine just because they could not make arrangements for someone to shovel while they are away?  You can end up in hospital for a lengthy stay without any prior warning and a person going on vacation can often forget this detail.

                Good citizens with no signs of a health problem can end up dead from shovelling snow as was the case in the heart attack death while shovelling snow during the last big storm of a prominent parishner of my church.  The proposal to have city crews clear all walks will actually save lives.

                I do not like the fine system on principle. Municipalities are governed by municipal councils NOT ruled by them. The job of municipal council is to make decisions about municipal financing and services.  Because land owners owe fealty to the Queen, representatives of the state may order them to maintain the roadway and / or crown land adjacent to their property but it is not appropriate for city council to make such orders.   We elect city council to govern not rule and they do not represent the monarch as provincial and federal governments do.

                I realize that the $3.8 million proposal to have city crews clear all walks would have added to my tax bill and adding such a cost would not go over well with voters.  I’d like to suggest that the city come up with a proposal where city blocks or neighbourhoods could opt to pay for such a service in their tax bill by a local vote and simple majority.  I understand that admittedly some time ago, this was how sidewalks were originally installed and paid for in Kitchener and why some streets to this day do not have sidewalks.  Neighbourhoods that opt in would be exempt from the fine. I think this issue is worth a second look for the sake of saving lives and making Kitchener more pedestrian friendly.

I'm not pleased with Kitchener council rejecting the $3.8 M proposal to have city crews clear all walks. Increasing the fines for property owners who fail to keep the side walks in front of their homes and businesses clear of snow and ice is not a solution.  The fine will be just another cost of doing business in Kitchener for businesses and absentee property owners.  It will be added to the price and rent they charge.  It will not get the sidewalks cleaned.  Who it really hurts are all the senior citizens who live in their own homes and the disabled who will still face uncleared sidewalks. Shovelling snow has already caused one death that I know of and I’ve seen the difficulty a physically challenged student had getting to school after the last big snow fall. I can’t help but note that the majority of councillors are physical fit and not yet senior citizens. I urge them to reconsider; we senior citizens are increasing in numbers and we vote. Mississauga and Kingston to name but two Ontario cities have had citywide ploughing of sidewalks for years.  Get with it Kitchener.

I support my government’s decision to allow same-sex “marriages” through the civil process but I chose to qualify such marriages by emphasizing the word “civil” – they are “civil marriages”.  (I wish my local MP, Karen Redman, had stuck to her well thought out compromise and not whipped senior Liberals to vote for the present Canadian definition of “marriage”.) The new definition is not the same as the traditional church definition.  The Church marriage down through the ages unites a man and a woman as husband and wife for the purpose of the formation of a family unit, procreation and the education and nurturing of children.

I believe that same-sex marriages are not compatible with Anglican Church marriages. I am extremely worried that the issue of blessing same-sex unions may split the Anglican Church in Canada and get us thrown out, along with the U.S. Episcopalians, of the world-wide Anglican Communion.  I really don’t understand the Dioceses of New Westminster, Ottawa and Montreal voting to allow the blessing of such unions.  Same-sex marriages are contracts or civil unions.  They differ from a bond of life long friendship between two same sex persons in that there is a sexual element and the contract seeks to legitimize the sexual relationship. Friends also make a lifelong commitment though there is no exclusiveness. The Church does not bless friendship or general contracts so why should it bless same-sex marriages?  If you are going to bless same-sex marriages then make it different from the traditional church marriage and include all committed friendships. Friendship is indeed blessed!

 “Kitchener library opens shelves to region’s readers” is a headline I’ve wanted to see since I moved to Kitchener about 17 years ago.  I believe in one library card for all of Ontario and our public libraries pooling their resources province-wide.  Yes richer communities should be aiding their less fortunate neighbours; we are our brothers’ keepers. Working together and pooling resources, all the libraries of Ontario can better serve the citizens of Ontario and make Ontario the knowledge capita of Canada. The libraries of Waterloo Region opening up all their services to all the residents of the Region is one small step in this direction.  The next step is Greg Hayton’s vision of “a broad-based southern Ontario initiative in which a single library card could be used in a host of municipalities. “  Congratulations KPL! What a wonderful Christmas present to the people of Waterloo Region.  Merry Christmas to all!