Friday, June 27, 2008

Anyone know?

Tansi/Good Day Readers:

Last weekend the MMF's Provincial Board of Directors held a retreat. One of the issues on the agenda was a discussion of a potentially explosive situation involving the Louis Riel Capital Corporation. Anyone know what else transpired?

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Butt out eh!


Drivers On Drugs To Face Body-Fluid Tests
Controversial New Law Takes Effect In A Week
By Janice Tibbetts
Canwest News Service
June 25, 2008
OTTAWA - Drivers who get behind the wheel while high on drugs will face roadside testing and they could be ordered to surrender urine, blood or saliva samples at the police station under a controversial new law that takes effect one week from today.
Drivers who refuse to comply will be subject to a minimum $1,000 fine - the same penalty for refusing the breathalyzer.
Police will be given their new powers to nab drug-impaired drivers after almost five years of intense debate in the federal Parliament.
The law, passed this year after three failed attempts, has been lauded by law enforcement and groups who say drug-induced drivers are escaping unpunished at a time when their numbers are climbing.
"Love it," said Gregg Thomson, a father from Kanata, Ont., who predicted yesterday that the new testing will deter people from driving under the influence of drugs, just as the breathalyzer test produced a drop in drunk driving.
Mr. Thomson has been lobbying for a new law since 1999, when his son, Stan, and four of his high-school friends were killed when a 17-year-old who had been smoking marijuana attempted a highway pass that led to a pileup.
The crash became a catalyst for the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving to start pushing for changes to the Criminal Code, which outlaws drug-impaired driving but until now has not included measures that allow police to order a battery of tests.
The new law, however, has sparked warnings about potential court battles from critics who contend that demanding bodily fluids is overly intrusive and scientifically unreliable in detecting drug impairment.
"This is going to be challenged left and right," predicted Murray Mollard, executive director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association.
Beginning July 2, drivers suspected of being high will be required to perform physical tests at the side of the road, such as walking a straight line. If they fail, they will be sent to the police station for further testing by a trained "drug recognition expert" and then be forced to give blood, urine, or saliva samples if they flunk the second test as well.
Critics say the new law could cause more problems that it solves, particularly because there is no reliable scientific test to detect drug use. Also, while there is a measurable link between blood alcohol levels and driving ability, research is lacking to equate drug quantity and impairment.
Another potential problem in testing bodily fluids is that they can detect marijuana smoked several days or months earlier and the effect has worn off.
"This kind of testing doesn't test for impairment, it tests for past use of a substance and we know with certain substances they stay for a long time," said Mollard.
Federal privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart and the Canadian Bar Association have also raised alarm bells.
Testing is already happening in Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia -- but only when the driver voluntarily participates. But that hardly ever happens because nobody "is going to consent to pee in a bottle" when they are not legally required, said Andy Murie, chief executive officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Not bloody likely!

T. Vorcheux has left a new comment on your post, "Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Rule 34.04(5) - revisited!"

What he should do is donate this money to a charity. I repeat he should be ashamed to pocket this money.
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Dear T. Vorcheux:

Thank you for writing. Sorry for taking so long to post your e-mail.

You're referring to a cheque ($50.20 - appearance plus travel money) Co-Defendant Terry Belhumeur received (August 17, 2007) from MMF lawyer Murray Trachtenberg for a scheduled September 6, 2007 Examination for Discovery (He was a no show so it was held January 28, 2008!) in the Federation's defamation lawsuit against www.CyberSmokeSignals.com.

We received several e-mail from people who were upset Mr. Belhumeur had accepted payment. Suffice it to say, knowing "the gentleman" as we do, it's bloody unlikely he'd donate the money to charity.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Monday, June 23, 2008

Making a meaningful difference!

g has left a new comment on your post, "What will he think of next? And while you're at it why not include the NDP logo and the Ukrainian national flag and the ....."

I think it is a significant observation and long overdue for Canada to recognize that Aboriginal peoples are founding peoples of Canada.
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Dear g:

Thank you for writing. While we agree with you on one level we also think there are much more meaningful, practical ways of accomplishing it. People have come from throughout the world to build Canada into what it is today as evidenced by a backlog of immigrants waiting to come here which keeps getting longer.

We are also of the view his comparison of the Canadian Coat of Arms to Narnia is silly. A few years ago, another Member of Parliament tried to have the Latin inscription changed to, "From sea to sea to sea" but it wasn't passed by Parliament.

Wonder how many Canadians could describe the 13 elements that make up our Coat of Arms? Reference www.pch.gc.ca/PROGS/CPSC-CCSP/sc-cs/arm2_e.cfm.

We believe a better approach for Mr. Martin to take would be to use his time, money and effort as a Member of Parliament to lobby the federal government for more funding to improve social programs for Aboriginal peoples living in his Winnipeg Centre Riding and throughout Manitoba for that matter. In other words, develop initiatives here which are second to none elsewhere in Canada. Doing that is a lot more difficult and labour intensive than changing our Coat of Arms.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Thank you "Metis Communication!"

Tansi/Good Day Readers:

Earlier we received an anonymous explosive account of the Doug Repay-Louis Riel Capital Corporation situation. Today a version diametrically opposed arrived from Metis Communication. While requesting anonymity, it suggests we call upon former Manitoba Metis Federation Provincial Director Darrel Deslaruiers for details.










What say you?

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Saturday, June 21, 2008

What will he think of next? And while you're at it why not include the NDP logo and the Ukrainian national flag and the .....?

Coat of Arms Ignores Aboriginal People, MP Says
Winipeg MP Pushes for Aboriginal Symbol to be Added to Canada's Coat of Arms
Last Updated: Friday, June 20, 2008 11:10 AM CT
CBC News
Canada's coat of arms should include an aboriginal symbol for it to truly represent the country's history, Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin says.
The current national emblem has symbols representing England, Scotland, Ireland and France, but nothing to reflect the first residents of the country, Martin told CBC News Friday before introducing a motion asking Parliament to consider the idea.
"It looks more like the coat of arms for Narnia than for Canada," he said.
What really struck me, especially after the apology of residential schools last week, is that there's no reference, whatsoever, to the original peoples of Canada — the First Nations, Inuit or the Métis."
Even the addition of an eagle feather or a medicine wheel would help the coat of arms be more representative, he said.
A vote in Parliament is not required to change the coat of arms — the government could simply decide it is a good idea and do it, he said.
Aboriginal people could be consulted about it over the summer, he said
The coat of arms was last revised in 1994.
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The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantacy novels for children written by C.S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 41 languages. Written by Lewis between 1949 and 1954 and illustrated by Pauline Baynes, The Chronicles of Narnia have been adapted several times, complete or in part, for radio, television, state and cinema. In addition to numerous traditional Christian themes, the series borrows characters and ideas from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as, from traditional British and Irish fairy tales.
The Chronicles of Narnia present the adventures of children who play central roles in the unfolding history of the of fictional realm of Narnia, a place where animals talk, magic is common, and good battles evil. Each of the books (with the exception of The Horse And His Boy ) features as its protagonists children from our world who are magically transported to Narnia, where they are called upon to help the lion Aslan handle a crisis in the world of Narnia.

An open letter to anonymous!

Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for the e-mail regarding the Louis Riel Capital Corporation - Doug Repay situation.

Since it contains very serious allegations, it would be totally irresponsible and inappropriate for us to publish the contents unless or until we have third-party independent verification. If you're prepared to supply additional information (anonymously or otherwise) we'd be willing to review it and re-consider our decision. Thank you for contacting CyberSmokeBlog.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Thank you for starting this Frank Godon! God, where does it end?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Who would you choose?"

الخرطوم (ا ف ب) - وقعت شركتا "تشاينا ووتر كورب" و"سينو هايدرو" المملوكتان من الدولة الصينية الاحد عقدا بقيمة 400 مليون دولار مع الحكومة السودانية لزيادة ارتفاع اقدم سد في البلاد سد الرصيرص في ولاية النيل الازرق (جنوب).وجرى حفل التوقيع في الخرطوم بحضور الرئيس عمر حسن البشير كما افاد مراسل وكالة فرانس برس.ومع تعلية سد الرصيرص الذي بني في عهد الاستعمار البريطاني مطلع القرن العشرين لري مزروعات القطن سترتفع قدرته التخزينية الى سبعة مليارات متر مكعب من المياه عوضا عن اربعة مليارات حاليا.وتبلغ تكلفة المشروع 396 مليون دولار سيتولى تمويلها مستثمرون عرب ومن المتوقع ان يستغرق تنفيذه اربعة اعوام.وتعتبر الصين من اكبر المستثمرين في السودان وهي المستورد الاول لصادراته النفطية. وتتهمها بعض منظمات الدفاع عن حقوق الانسان بالتآمر مع حكومة الخرطوم في النزاع الدائر في اقليم دارفور (غرب).وتشارك "تشاينا ووتر كورب" في بناء سد مروي المثير للجدل في شمال السودان حيث قتل اربعة اشخاص على الاقل في حزيران/يونيو على يد الشرطة خلال تظاهرة مناهضة لبناء السد
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "знакомить Frank Godon наш новый русский переводчик!"

หลังจากที่มีข่าวคราวข่าวกันมาเนิ่นนานว่าจะมีกล้องที่เรียกได้ว่าเป็นทายาทของ Canon EOS30D ออกมา ซึ่งหลายกระแสก็เดากันไปต่างๆนานๆ ว่ามันจะมีประสิทธิภาพเป็นเช่นไร โดยในตอนนี้เราก็ได้รู้แล้วว่ากล้องตัวที่พูดถึงนั่นก็คือเจ้า 40D นั่นเอง และสำหรับในวันนี้ ที่ผมได้มีโอกาสสัมผัสกับ Canon EOS 40D ตัวเป็นๆเสียที จึงอยากนำมันมารีวิวให้ท่านผู้อ่านได้รู้ลึกไปถึงคุณสมบัติและประสิทธิภาพของมันอย่างเจาะลึกไปพร้อมๆกัน ว่ามันมีดีเช่นไรCanon EOS 40D เป็นกล้องระดับโปรซูมเมอร์ที่มาพร้อมกับความละเอียด 10.1 ล้านพิกเซล (3888 x 2592 พิกเซล) ใช้ระบบเซ็นเซอร์ในแบบ CMOS ที่พัฒนาขึ้นมาใหม่โดย Canon เอง มีขนาด APS-C คูณทางยาวโฟกัสเพิ่ม 1.6 เท่า ส่วนระบบประมวลผลนั้น 40D มีระบบประมวลผลแบบใหม่ที่มีชื่อว่า DIGIC III ซึ่งมาพร้อมกับเมมโมรี่ในรูปแบบ DDR SDRAM ใหม่ที่มีความเร็วสูง สามารถบันทึกข้อมูลได้ในแบบ 4 ช่องสัญญาณ ทำให้ตัวกล้องสามารถประมวลผลได้อย่างรวดเร็วมากยิ่งขึ้น ส่งผลให้ 40D สามารถถ่ายภาพต่อเนื่องได้ด้วยความเร็วสูงสุด 6.5 ภาพต่อวินาที และถ่ายต่อเนื่องติดต่อกันได้มากที่สุดในรูปแบบของไฟล์ JPEG (Large/Fine) อยู่ที่ 75 ภาพ ส่วนไฟล์ RAW อยู่ที่ 17 ภาพ และไฟล์ RAW+JPEG (Large/Fine) นั้นอยู่ที่ 14 ภาพ นอกไปจากนั้น Canon EOS 40D ยังมีคุณสมบัติในการโฟกัสที่รวดเร็วและแม่นยำ โดยมีจุดออโต้โฟกัสในแบบแนวกว้างรูปกากบาทหรือ Cross – type ถึง 9 จุด พร้อมทั้งยังมีจุดช่วยโฟกัส (รวมจุดโฟกัส 45 จุด) เลยทีเดียว

Friday, June 20, 2008

знакомить Frank Godon наш новый русский переводчик!

определенный артикль кремль
Frank Godon has left a new comment on your post, "Mr. dishwasher!"
Ok - Я понимаю. As for the Montreal Don - heard something in passing but not interested.
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дорогой мистер Frank Godon:
мой бог! (My God!) we had no idea you were so fluent in Russian. About a week ago we received an e-mail in Russian - one of your students? Pассказывать им всякий вокруг David Chartrand соединительный союз и Murray Trachtenberg!
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Who would you choose?

Tippah has left a new comment on your post, "Only frying pans are made of teflon!"
Rob De Niro could play Vito Rizzuto in the movie but who would be David Chartrand if a feature length file were made? Too bad John Belushi wasn't still alive he'd be a perfect choice!
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Dear Tippah:
Thank you for writing. Really like your choices. For David Chartrand we'd select Ray St. Germain for his superbe acting every Saturday morning on NCI Radio's Metis Hour Times Two or Joseph Stalin for his "management style."
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

What happened to the dead duck?

Will Goodon, Lawyer Jean Teillet (Pape Salter Teillet) and their expensive duck!
Smitty has left a new comment on your post, "The $300,000 Canadian taxpayers' duck?"

How's Willy boy's court case going, I hear its deader than that duck!
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Dear Smitty:
Thank you for for writing. Don't know but maybe someone out there does.
The trial was held in Brandon some time ago. Justice Manitoba's online Court Registry System contains records of documents filed and hearings scheduled for that Queen's Bench venue going back to February 1, 2001. What you'll have to do is contact the courthouse, name the parties involved in the case (e.g. Will Goodon or MMF versus Province of Manitoba) and see if it can come up with a file number. It should look something like this:
CI 05-01-41955
CI = Court of Queen's Bench Civil Division
0? = Year Statement of Claim filed
02 = Brandon
Four Digits = Unique identifier
It's much easier to track a case if you have its file number. Then you can go online to get a listing of all documents entered into the official record, when and by whom. This will give you a general overview of what's happening. However, to really understand the latest you'll need to visit the courthouse, pay a $5 fee if you're not one of the litigants, to obtain the documents which you can then photocopy to your heart's content.
If anyone living in or near Brandon would like to do this, we'll gladly post the material for all to see.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Don't know?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Mr. dishwasher!"

Clare, what's the word with The Louis Riel Capital Corporation's General Manager Doug Repay? Was he the scapegoat for LRCC going after those Metis peoples' loans or did he quit? No loss, he was .... anyway something like CEO David Chartrand.
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Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for writing. In our June 17, 2008 posting, More turmoil at The Louis Riel Capital Corporation?, we called upon readers with information to contact us. Unfortunately, no one has so, sorry, still don't know.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Mr. dishwasher!

Frank Godon has left a new comment on your post, "Only frying pans are made of teflon!"
You never answered the question. Does this mean there isn't going to be a forensic audit? And I was refering to what someone wrote on your blog a while back. Something about Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand being teflon. Even I know that no one is teflon. Somewhere - somehow - something will stick - it may not stick today or tomorrow - but something will stick.
Glad I'm not the dishwasher :)
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Dear Frank Godon:
Thank you for writing. Oh but we did. When Mr. Bruinooge's staff told us the Minister of Health asked his Department to look into the situation and it returned with the finding everything was tickety-boo, copacetic or words to that effect, does it sound like a forensic audit is close at hand unless more information detailing questionable financial practices becomes available?
For your edification, we'd highly recommend www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Teflon/Teflon-HistoryDuPont.htm which details how chemical giant DuPont discovered teflon in 1938.
Besides, don't knock being the dishwasher at least you'd be clean. Can you imagine if you were the effluent?
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
P.S. You never answered our question either. Did you know who Vito Rizzuto is before we told you?

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Happy Father's Day Dad - your bratty little daughter just actioned you!

Graduate, University of Montana, Faculty of Law 14 years old - scary!

Poor Dad, who paid for her education, is forced to go back to school to get a law degree so he can sue her little smart-ass off!

Father Of Girl, 12, Appeals Quebec Court Decision Overruling Parental Punishment
Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The father of a 12-year-old Quebec girl who won a court decision overruling a paternal punishment is appealing the decision, his lawyer said yesterday. The girl took her father to Quebec Superior Court after he said she could not go on a school trip for disobeying his orders to stay off the Internet. The man's lawyer, Kim Beaudoin, said the issue is about restoring paternal authority and should have been dismissed by Justice Suzanne Tessier, who told the girl on Friday that she could make the trip.

"If a parent goes too far there's youth court," Ms. Beaudoin said."

I don't think this tribunal was the proper forum for a decision like this one." In any event, the child had broken a number of house rules, she noted. After the father cut her access to the Internet for chatting on Web sites he tried to block off, she used a friend's Internet to post pictures of herself in clothing "inappropriate for a child her age," Ms. Beaudoin said.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Boston 2008 NBA World Champions - Kobe Bryant floods bed almost drowns!


"131-92: Told you!"



Only frying pans are made of teflon!

Frank Godon has left a new comment on your post, "Here's your answer!"

So Clare from what you're saying there isn't going to be a forensic audit? Didn't someone tell you David Chartrand is teflon and he's coming after you.
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Dear Frank Godon:

Thank you for writing. Conrad Black, John Gotti, Vito Rizzuto and even your hero Clint Eastwood thought they were teflon. So didn't someone tell you only frying pans are made of teflon?

David Chartrand is going after Yvon Dumont too maybe you're next!

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

P.S. Who's Vito Rizzuto, Frank? We knew it, we knew it - you don't know do you? He was Montreal's "Teflon Don" until a couple years ago when he was finally convicted for his involvement in a mob hit dating back to the 1970s. He's now doing 10 years in a United States federal prison.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Here's your answer!

Tansi/Good Day Readers:

The letter shown below was initially posted March 9, 2008 by MetisMama (www.metisbarefacts.blogspot.com). The question then became what, if anything, has subsequently transpired.

For the past couple weeks we've been in contact with Mr. Bruinooge's staff in his Winnipeg South Constituency Office. They have been most courteous, polite and helpful even though we do not live in his Riding.

We were informed after Health Minister Clement received Mr. Bruinooge's letter, he requested his staff look into the mattter and was subsequently advised everything was in order or words to that effect. This finding was subsequently conveyed to Mr. Bruinooge.

If you'd like to contact Rod Bruinooge or his Constituency Office staff, here are their particulars.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk













Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 995-7517
Facsimile: (613) 943-1466
Bruinooge.R@parl.gc.ca
www.bruinooge.ca

Constituency Offices
2855 Pembina Highway
Unit 27 (Main Office)
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2H5
Telephone: (204) 984-6787
Facsimile: (204) 984-6792
rod@bruinooge.com
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House of Commons
Chambre Des Communes

February 25, 2008

Rod Bruinooge
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South

Député de Winnipeg-Sud

Honorable Tony Clements
Minister of Health
Ottawa, ON

Dear Minister Clement,

I hope that you are well. It has come to my attention that there are very justifiable concerns regarding the use of health funding dollars previously provided to the Métis National Council in 2007. The concern results specifically from Health Canada dollars that were allocated to a company called Med Co in Alberta.

I would like to request that a forensic audit take place which will determine whether the public funding provided to the MNC for health services was in fact used for health purposes and in accord with the agreement.

Sincerely,
Rod Bruinooge
Parliamentary Secretary toThe Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

More turmoil at The Louis Riel Capital Corporation?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Battle of the asses!"

Did not know where to leave you the comment - but has anyone asked what happened to the latest ex-LRCC General Manager, Doug Repay? Hmmm.....did he get fired or has he quit?
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Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for writing you've come to the right place.

This is the first we've heard so in situations like this we go to our readership. Does anyone know the current status of Doug Repay - is/was he the General Manager of The Louis Riel Capital Corporation.

From firsthand experience we can tell you the organization likes to eat its General Managers alive.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Battle of the asses!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Messrs. Chartrand and St. Germain know diddly about Ste. Rita's history!"

One big ass elephant! ..... LOL
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Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for writing. Maybe so but a lot of little angry Ste. Rita asses.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

The incredible waste of Canadian taxpayer dollars continues!

The Honourable W. Yvon Dumont, O.M.

Tansi/Good Day Readers:

Thought it was time to check online again (Manitoba Justice website) Court of Queen's Bench File No. CI 05-01-42919 Metis National Council Secretariat Inc. and Clement Chartier on behalf of the Metis National Council and the Metis National Council versus W. Yvon Dumont.

Guess what? On May 13 of this year MMF lawyer Murray Norman Trachtenberg representing the Plaintiffs has filed a Notice of Appeal.

To backtrack for our out of province and international readers, Mr. Dumont was Manitoba's 21th Lieutenant Governor (the Queen's Official Representative) from 1993-1999 and the first Metis to hold this position in Canada.

After leaving Office in 1999, he accepted an MNC offer to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the Metis Nation. Fast forward in 2003. Mr. Dumont resigned to declare his candidacy for Manitoba Metis Federation President in the March 26, 2003 election. After a recount he lost by 20 votes challenged it in court and won (January, 2004). However, the decision was appealed and heard (May, 2004). Unfortunately, the earlier ruling was overturned.
During May, 2005 the Metis National Council Inc., MNC and its President Clement Chartier filed a Statement of Claim alleging Mr. Dumont by resigning had breached his contract with the Metis National Council. It asked for relief of a little over $47,000 worth of salary be returned plus the Defendant pay the Plaintiffs' court costs.
In a late April 2007 a one week was held. Yvon Dumont was very capably defended by Winnipeg lawyers Anders Bruun and Jeff Niederhoffer.








Anders Bruun








Jeff Niederhoffer

During July, 2007 Queen's Bench Justice John Menzies released his 22 page decision in favour of The Honourable W. Yvon Dumont. At the time, lead attorney Anders Brunn was quoted in the Winnipeg Free Press as saying the ruling was "virtually unappealabe." The case was also featured in The Lawyers Weekly a publication you'll find in just about every Canadian solicitors' office.
Shortly thereafter Counselor Trachtenberg announced his intention to file a Notice of Appeal. Recall at the time the words of one of the defence attorneys, "They've just been whacked over the head with a piece of timber and they're coming back for more."
Clement Chartier has already recently publicly conceded the MNC is in significant debt but making a concerted effort to right its finances. The appeal will cost about $30,000. So from where are the funds coming to pay Mr. Trachtenberg? This is an outrageous textbook example of misusing taxpayer dollars and the law to harass, threaten and bully one of Manitoba's outstanding citizens. You should all contact and file a protest with your Member of Parliament. To find their particulars visit www.parl.gc.ca and activate the "Members of Parliament (Current)" link at the top of the page.
So why are the Plaintiffs appealing? It's probably because they're desperate. Justice Menzies ordered them to pay for the one week trial they lost. We estimate it to be over $150,000.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Good on you Associate Chief Justice Oliphant - let's get to the bottom of this!

"I apologize and I accept full responsibility for it," he told a parliamentary committee, saying he should instead have insisted on a check." (Thursday, December 13, 2007)
The apology did not impress Pat Martin of the minority New Democrats. "People use cash in business deals of that size when they're either trying to hide any record of something that they know to be wrong or if they're trying to avoid taxes ... neither look very good for a former prime minister, let me say," he told Mulroney.
Critics Judge The Judge
Oliphant Named To Schreiber-Mulroney Inquiry
The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Sun
June 13, 2008
OTTAWA - A Manitoba judge appointed to the bench by Brian Mulroney's government will head up a public inquiry into Mulroney's murky dealings with international arms lobbyist Karlheinz Schreiber.
Jeffrey Oliphant, associate chief justice of Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench, was named to lead the long-awaited investigation yesterday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
But opposition MPs immediately raised doubts about Oliphant's ability to get to the bottom of Mulroney's long, lucrative relationship with Schreiber, given the judge's links to the former prime minister's government and the limited scope of his mandate.
Oliphant, 64, was named to the federally-appointed Court of Queen's Bench in 1985 and was promoted to associate chief justice in 1990. Both career moves took place during Mulroney's tenure as prime minister.
"The optics of this are terrible and calls into question the integrity of the whole inquiry," said New Democrat MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre).
Although Oliphant has "an excellent reputation as a jurist," Martin added: "This guy owes Brian Mulroney his career. If this was a criminal trial or a civil case, he'd have to recuse himself."
Oliphant was not speaking to the media yesterday but Harper's spokesperson, Sandra Buckler, said the judge "has not met, nor has he ever talked to Brian Mulroney."
Buckler pointed out that Oliphant was also appointed by Jean Chretien's Liberal government to a position as deputy judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice in 2002.
Oliphant's appointment came seven months after Harper first promised a formal investigation into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair.
"The government is acting on its commitment to establish a public inquiry into this matter," Harper said in a statement.
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Tansi/Good Day Readers:
We think Winnipeg Centre Member of Parliament Pat Martin in his comments about Associate Chief Justice Jeffrey Oliphant should take note of what Clint Eastwood, in true Dirty Harry fashion, recently told black Movie Director Spike Lee, "He should shut his face." Where's our unofficial resident war movie critic Frank Godon when we need him - just like a cop! He's the one who taught us the Eastwoodism, "There's a Cluster F*ck ahead, Sir!" - Heartbreak Ridge (1986).
Here's why:
(1) Exhibit "A" - The First Letter
From: CLARE PIEUK <pieuk@shaw.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2005 2:54 pm
Subject: Forensic Audit - Manitoba Metis Federation
The Honourable Pat Martin
Member of Parliament, Winnipeg Centre
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-5308
Facsimile: (613) 992-2890

Re: The Manitoba Metis Federation

Dear Mr. Martin:

By way of background, for more than five years a colleague and I have operated a not-for-profit, independant, non funded Metis specific website dedicated to improving the governance, financial accountability and transparency of the MMF. During this time almost 218,000 individuals from throughout Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have visited us.
To date, I have had meetings with Officials from the Office of Manitoba's Provincial Aduitor, a Member of the RCMP's Commercial Crime Section (Winnipeg), as well as, The Honourable Oscar Lathin's Office who, as you know, is our Minister responsible for Aboriginal and Northern Afairs. Each has been shown substantial written documentation which I believe may indicate a significant misappropriation of taxpayer dollars has taken place over serveral years. At no time have any of the parties suggested I not contunue to pursue the matter.
On Friday morning of this week I will be telephoning your Constituency Office requesting a meeting as soon as reasonably possible. Hopefully, unlike a previous electronic correspondnce sent directly to you (unrelated Metis situation) which has not been answered, you will recognize the seriousness of the situation at hand. Should such not transpire, I will contact Ms. Sheila Fraser at which time she will be fully appraised including the fact a Loyal Member of Her Majesty's Offical Opposition failed to react.
I look forward to meeting with you in the foreseeable future.
Respectfully,
Clare L. Pieuk (Web Master, CyberSmokeSignals.com)
(2) Exhibit "B" - The Telephone Conversation
On Saturday, June 4, 2005 at approximately 10:00 a.m. I telephoned Mr. Martin's Constituency Office and spoke directly with him. The conversation lasted approximately a half-hour:
(i) Mr. Martin noted he was very busy working on serveral immigration related files for his constitutents
(ii) After explaining I was quite prepared to meet with him to share our documentation, he took the position unlike many of his colleagues who were always focusing on negative activities associated with Aboriginal organizations he was emphasizing the positives
(iii) He was then reminded of his position as The Queen's Loyal Member of the Official Opposition Party responsible for Aboriginal Affairs
(iv) After the gentleman reiterated he was too busy to meet he was advised a letter would be forthcoming to Auditor General Fraser
(v) It was noted since I was not one of his constituents he was not obliged to speak or meet with me at which point he was advised it was a good thing I was not one of his constituents because he most certainly wouldn't got my vote. Mr. Martin was politely reminded as the Official NDP Aboriginal Affairs Critic and a Manitoba Member of Parliament this request supersedes whether an individual is resident of his Winnipeg Centre Riding
Exhibit C - The Second Letter
From: CLARE PIEUK <pieuk@shaw.ca>
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 7:24 pm
Subject: Joint Federa/Provincial Audit - Manitoba Metis Federation
Thusday, June 9, 2005
Sheila Fraser, FCA
Auditor General of Canada
Office of the Auditor General of Canada
240 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OG6
Telephone: (613) 995-3708
Facsimile: (613) 957-0474
Re: Joint Federal-Provincial Forensic Audit, Manitoba Metis Federation
Dear Ms. Fraser:
By way of background, for more than five years a colleague and I have operated a not-for-profit, independent, non funded Metis specific website dedicated to improving the governance, financial accountability and transparency of the MMF. During this time, over 219,000 individuals from throughout Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have visited us.
To date, I have had meetings with staff from Manitoba's Provincial Auditors Office, a Member of the RCMP's Commercial Crime section (Winnipeg), The Honourable Oscar Lathlin, Minister responsible for Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (Special Assistant), as well as, Mr. Pat Martin, MP (Winnipeg Centre) Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition Critic for Aboriginal Affairs (New Democratic Party). With the exception of Mr. Martin, each has been shown substantial written documentation which we believe may indicate a significant misappropriation of taxpayer dollars has taken place over several years. At no time have any of the parties suggested I not continue to pursue the matter.
I discussed the situation with the NDP Critic as recently as last Saturday (telephone approximately half-hour). Unfortunately, he was not prepared to peruse the documentation and consider contacting you (Hardly a labour intensive activity!) instead citing a heavy workload, limited resources and a desire to focus on the positive achievements of Aboriginal organziations. Sadly, the gentleman fails to comprehend if due diligence and financial accountability are not practiced, much of the good work on which he is focusing could indeed be undone, compromised or overshadowed. It is for this reason, therefore, I have had to take the unusal step of addressing you directly.
The authorities with whom I have been corresponding were advised I will be e-mailing you requesting a joint federal-provincial audit on the basis that the vast preponderance of funding given the MMF represents taxpayer dollars. By late Fall 2005, if I have still not been advised whether further action is underway, I will write our Provincial Auditor Mr. Jon Singleton asking for a definitive answer. It is my understanding the gentleman is obliged to provide such. Failing that, I will file a formal information request pursuant to Manitoba's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in an attempt to force compliance. Hopefully, this will not be necessary.
Should all previous initiatives prove unsuccessful, then and only then will I approach the media, as well as, begin publicly discussing the matter on www.CyberSmokeSignals.com.
In the meantime, I remain ready to meet with an auditor(s) from your Office. Below for your edification are copies of correspondence which have been sent to date. Hopefully, it will provide you and your staff with an appreciation of what has transpired.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
Web Master, CyberSmokeSignals.com
So where are these documents today you didn't have the time to review alleged Member of Parliament Mr. Pat Martin? Well, on March 2, 2006 Murray Norman Trachtenberg Counsel for the MMF Plaintiffs in the Federation's defamation lawsuit against www.CyberSmokeSignals.com filed a 35 page Motion Brief in which he tried to do two things:
(1) Force us to turn them all over to him
(2) Reveal our sources
I responded with a 31 page counter Motion Brief challenging Mr. Trachtenberg's request. A Hearing was held before Justice McCawley on May 1, 2006. Unfortunately, we lost, however, it's interesting to note Her Honour's comments. On more than one occasion she noted it was me she was concerned about noting she could not allow me to go to an Examination for Discovery with documents which had been questionably obtained. When I expressed concern they could be shredded or otherwise "miraculously disappear" Milady assured me, if necessary, they could be subpoeaned at trial. She then granted a Court Order forcing me to turn them over to Murray Trachtenberg. Therefore, during the Summer of 2006 I relinquished 1,574 pages to Murray Trachtenberg's Legal Assistant Louise Colombe on three separate occasions.
During October, 2006 my then attorney Jeff Niederhoffer and I met with Manitoba's Deputy Auditor General and three of her senior staff to review copies of these same documents which had previously been turned over to them before Counselor Trachtenberg obtained a Court Order. It was decided since the federal government funds most of the MMF's budget, the Auditor General of Canada's Office should take the lead in a joint forensic audit so it was agreed the material would be forwarded to Mr. Christian Asselin a forensic auditor in the AGCO.
I subsequently recieved a letter from Mr. Trachtenberg dated January 23, 2008 with an attached Amended Affidavit of Documents. Item 110 was listed as a letter from the aforementioned Mr. Asselin suggesting 8 packages of material had been returned to Counselor Trachtenberg. When confidential material is provided to the AGCO there is a presumption it will remain in their care and control and not be relinquished to the attorney for the Plaintiffs in a lawsuit. At trial the propriety of Messrs. Asselin and Trachtenberg's actions will be challenged.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
Distribution List

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Clint Eastwood: 'Spike Lee Should 'Shut His Face'
(June 6, 2008)


Spike Lee Should shut his face" about the lack of African-Americans in "Flags of Our Fathers."

"Has he ever studied the history?" Eastwood asked the U.K.'s Guardian in an interview published on Friday.

While promoting his own war movie, "Miracle at St. Anna," about the all-black 92nd Buffalo Division, which fought the Germans in Italy during World War II, Lee said Eastwood's Iwo Jima movie "Flags of Our Fathers" lacked a single African-American.

There were many African-Americans who survived that war and who were upset at Clint for not having one [in 'Flags' or 'Letters From Iwo Jima']. That was his version: The negro soldier did not exist. I have a different version," Lee said recently at the Cannes film festival in France.

In response, Eastwood told the Guardian: "A guy like him should shut his face."

"He was complaining when I did 'Bird' [the 1988 biopic of Charlie Parker]. Why would a white guy be doing that? I was the only guy who made it, that's why. He could have gone ahead and made it. Instead he was making something else."

As for "Flags of Our Fathers," he says there was a small detachment of black troops on Iwo Jima as a part of a munitions company, "but they didn't raise the flag. The story is 'Flags of Our Fathers,' the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn't do that. If I go ahead and put an African-American actor in there, people'd go, 'This guy's lost his mind.' I mean, it's not accurate."

Clint Eastwood has put the kibosh on any rumours that he will one day revisit Dirty Harry. Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival he put the record straight.

Clint Eastwood was there to promote his film with Angelina Jolie called Changeling. We already know that his new project Gran Torino, will not see him back as Dirty Harry. There were still some rumours of him going back to that role, but he seems pretty clear: No. That rumour's incorrect. I have no intention. There are certain things you have to be realistic about. Dirty Harry would not be on a police department at my age, so we'll move on from that.

"Go ahead make my day! You have to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well do you punk? I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head off do you feel lucky?"

Linkage is everything!


Clare,

Looking at your Referrer stats, I saw something interesting:
http://dannielujay.spaces.live.com (specifically, the links). Don't know if you already know this, but the lady has linked to you (as well as to Derryl Sanderson and an unrelated website). To me, this is always the ultimate compliment when someone does this.
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Dear Reader:

WOW! Truly awesome - oh, almost forgot, by the way thank you for writing.
Every so often we check the links. Couple months ago one featured a young lady obviously of superior pedigree, culture and intellect - and a real little cutie too! Seems she had a foot fetish so there were several pictures of her nicely manicured toes. Of course, as soon as we realized what the site was all about we immediately exited!
Perhaps we should contact Ms. Dannie-Lu Jay looking for a date - you know, a nice, young, fabulously wealthy widowed attorney (Eliminates a possible borderline psycho boyfriend/husband with a baseball bat!) into extreme sports who'd like to spend hours discussing legal strategy in the MMF's defamation lawsuit against www.CyberSmokeSignals.com over romantic dinners, dim lights and nice French wine.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
Postscript: Jeez, hope no hardcore porn sites decide to link with us although it would be good for visitor traffic!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Careful what you say about angry Ste. Rita army ants!







Close-Up Of An Angry Ste. Rita Army Ant! "Come on Big Guy bring it on show us what you've got!"

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Messrs. Chartrand and St. Germain know diddly about Ste. Rita's History!"
No one in Ste. Rite can compare to David Chartrand when it comes to contributions to the community. Chartrand has devoted his life to public service what have any of these individuals done? They're like ants shaking their fists at an elephant.
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Dear Anonymous:
Thank you for writing. Careful what you say about Ste. Rita army ants!
David Chartrand is very handsomely rewarded by Canadian taxpayers for his "public service."
The MMF's $25 million budget is funded by Ottawa (about 95%) and Manitoba. Approximately three years ago we tried to find out his annual salary. Started with the Federal Access to Information Act then the province's Freedom of Information And Protection of Privacy Act. Both essentially replied we don't know ask the MMF. Huh? Yeah right!
Someone read about our attempts on www.CyberSmokeSignals.com and anonymously contacted us to say they saw it on a document -$104,000 and that didn't include the value of perquisits and other benefits. Wonder what his financial package is worth today?
Anyone can visit the Manitoba Archives to request the "Blue Book." There you will find the names of all Manitoba civil servants making at least $50,000 annually, their departments plus positions. As taxpayers we have the right to know David Chartrand's salary.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Boston's Havlicek stole the ball and Kobe wet the bed!

Kobe Bryant after Boston beat the Lakers 97-91 being down as much as 24 points in the second quarter and 20 in the third:

“We just wet the bed,” said edgy and bitter Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. “A nice big one, too. One of those you have to put a towel over.”

Messrs. Chartrand and St. Germain know diddly about Ste. Rita's history!


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Time to upgrade your sign Ste. Rita!"

Your reader who suggested earlier David Chartrand is more of a leader than anyone in Ste. Rita because at least he has a vision for the community does not really know how the town feels here or is too ignorant to realize.

President Chartrand does not know anything about our town or didn't the reader listen to the radio three weeks ago when he had to ask Ray St. Germain the original name of our community? He nor his sign belong here. The leader of our club is doing a fine job looking out for all the townsfolk needs.

So to hell with David Chartrand he does not belong here and is definitely not our leader. He represents only a very small number of us.
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Dear Anonymous:

We're assuming your reference is to comments made on the MMF's Canadian taxpayer funded (an annual $50,000-$60,000 "touch") weekly NCI Radio program Metis Hour Times Two hosted by local musician Ray St. Germain. Because of its current format it's not worth a listen.

Here's another one of those you're not going to believe this. Earlier in the week we too were curious about Ste. Rita's history - how did it get its name? Here's what we did:

(1) Visited Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport (www.gov.mb.ca/chc/) where there's a link to the Provincial Toponymist (We didn't know either - someone who studies the names of locations!). The gentleman responded directly to our request in two e-mail. Here's what he said:

I am pleased to be able to provide the following information regarding the name, Ste. Rita. It's from the Manitoba Geographical Names Data Base and can also be found in our publication, Geographical Names of Manitoba, page 238.

A community east of Winnipeg. In 1966 the CPCGN changed the community name of Craigs to Ste. Rita, the name of the former Post Office and to conform with local usage. The Post Office opened in 1934 as Rita on NW34-10-9E, changed to Ste. Rita in 1965 and closed in 1970. The Post Office was named after the local church (Hadashville Women's Institute 1970). Craigs was established as a railway point on the Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway and was first noted on a GSC map (1921) as Craigs Siding. The origin was undetermined, but it was probably named by the Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway after an employee or landowner. The School District of Craig Siding was on SE 4-11-9E. Manitoba South map (1947) Craig Siding (Rita Post Office); CBGN (1951) Craigs (Rita Post Office).

That is the complete detail we have on file regarding the name Ste. Rita. If, you have any additional details regarding the name that will add to the information we currently have on file, I would certainly appreciate receiving a copy for our files.

If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. Thank you for your interest in Manitoba's geographical names. Have a great day!


Thanks


Although we haven't had time to thank the gentleman we certainly will

(2) Why not copy this e-mail and send it to Mr. St. Germain at NCI Radio (www.ncifm.com - rstgermain@ncifm.com) then at least he'll know. Alternatively, you could call in live, problem is, say anything negative about the MMF and you'll likely find yourself cut off posthaste

(3) One would think if the Manitoba Metis Federation leadership is going to take over your town at least it would have the courtesy of knowing the history.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk