Cheers: to pointing out the obvious. After a federal election that saw the Liberals attacking Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford’s cuts to try and damage the federal Conservatives and their leader, Andrew Scheer, Alberta United Conservative Party leader and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney waits until a timely three days after the federal election before releasing his budget. The Kenney plan? The elimination of 2,100 civil service jobs, $1.3 billion in cuts, but a continuation of a one-third cut in corporate income taxes. Wonder how that would have played out on the federal stage if Kenney had offered up a week earlier? (P.S. to those who need this pointed out — Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are in no way to blame for the Kenney budget.)
Cheers: to emulating your heroes. Ethan Smallwood of Conception Bay is dressing up as Terry Fox for Halloween — and will be collecting money to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation when he’s trick or treating this year. “He’s my hero,” Smallwood told The Telegram. “He has a good heart.” Terry Fox clearly isn’t the only one with a good heart.
Jeers: to horror movies in the making. Off the Pacific coast, scores of purple sea urchins are denuding kelp beds and starving out other sea creatures. There were 350 million found on one Oregon reef, a 10,000 per cent increase in population, while at the same time, predatory starfish that control the urchin population underwent a massive die-off. The real horror story? When the purple urchins run out of food after stripping miles upon miles of the sea floor, they can go into a form of suspended animation — for years. Zombie urchins of the deep!
Cheers: to a pop quiz. Which Newfoundland and Labrador politician was unavailable to talk to reporters last week about the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s involvement in the resignation of Jenny Wright of the St. John’s Status of Women Council because he was “travelling,” but was available to talk to Ben Mulroney of CTV’s “Your Morning” about the government’s decision to allow Indigenous individuals to use an eagle feather instead of a Bible in court? If you guessed provincial Justice Minister Andrew Parsons, you’d be right. And to add a little insult to injury (perhaps not intentionally) the Justice Department even put Oct. 24th footage of the unavailable minister’s availability for interviews up on their Twitter feed.
Jeers: to oldies but baddies. Do these email scams still even work anymore? “I am Mrs. Francisca Lister, Your email still valid? Please write Fred Anderson on ***@aol.com for more details your grant of two million Five Hundred Thousand Euros. Best Regards, Mrs. Francisca Lister London United Kingdom.” They must, because they keep coming and coming — but if you fall for them at this point, it must be tremendously embarrassing.
