IThere never will be peace in the Middle East until the Western world acknowledges its historic role in creating the problems. Mr. Harper slavishly follows George Bush into the vortex of death and destruction, weakening our role in the world and doing Arabs a gross injustice.

The Palestinians have occupied the area since the beginning of recorded history. Their ancestors were there when the Hebrews first came to Palestine and remained there after the Hebrews were driven out by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Muslims in Palestine built the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in the 7th Century. And in the 16th Century they built the wall around what is now the old city of Jerusalem. Also we should not forget that Muslims are People of the Book as are Jews and Christians.

Palestinians were still living in Palestine in the late 19th Century when Jews began migrating to the area and in the early 20th Century when the newly formed (1897) Zionist movement began encouraging European and Russian Jewish people to settle in Palestine. The pogroms in Russia and Poland and anti-Semitism throughout Europe culminating with the Holocaust spurred the Jewish people to settle in Palestine.

In 1915, during World War I, the British agreed to establish an Arab Kingdom in the Middle East if the Arabs would revolt against the Turks. The Arabs believed them and fought against the Turks. Meanwhile the French and British were secretly agreeing to divide up the Middle East between them. When President Wilson’s personal advisor, Colonel House, saw the agreement in 1917 he is reported to have said, “They are making it a breeding place for another war.”

To further add to future problems the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Balfour, produced the Balfour Report in 1917 supporting a Jewish national home in Palestine.

Following World War I, Britain and the United States negotiated a mandate for Palestine that was accepted by the Council of the League of Nations in 1922 which recognized the “historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine” and the “grounds for reconstructing their national home in that country.”

The Palestinians had no say in any of these deliberations though it was their land. This was the Western nations’ response to the Arab’s desire for independence after 500 years under the Ottoman Empire.

An important aspect of that 1922 mandate that has always been conveniently forgotten by the West is its other statement, “it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine….”

In 1947, though the Palestinians wanted a unitary state, the United Nations recommended the partition of Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state. It was also recommended that Jerusalem become an international territory.

In 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed and recognized by the United States and Russia. Israel, through conquest, now has 78% of Palestine rather than the 56% allocated by The UN Partition Plan of 1947. United Nations Resolution 194 recognized the right of Palestinians expelled by the Israel army or who fled during the 1948 war to return to their homes.

After the 1967 war, Israel occupied the West Bank and settlement of the occupied territory was encouraged, forcing more Palestinians off their land. The occupation and settlement were in breach of international law.

There can be no peace in Palestine until we accept our culpability in sowing the seeds of war 90 years ago and our cultivation of those seeds even to this day. Though I categorically reject the methods of Palestinian militia and those of their allies, I understand their fury. It is not for the Palestinians to stop fighting now; it is for us to first correct the grave injustice done to the Palestinians and then treat them as equals. That is the moral path.

August 16, 2006

I recently met a candidate for the upcoming election. His attitude was so refreshing that I felt I should share his revelations with readers. He is delaying filing until the last moment when his name will become public. He wants a short, sharp campaign.

Many candidates, past and present, have touted their business experience as a plus in running our municipality, though I have never seen the relationship between running a business in a small town and managing a multi-million dollar corporation and so I asked our candidate if he had business experience. He replied that as vice president responsible for the actual building of developments for Olympia & York, he built the famous Canary Wharf in London England, just one of the many projects he managed around the world.

I asked him why he decided to take early retirement in Kincardine. “Health and background”, he replied. His wife’s illness and his being raised in a small town brought him to Kincardine to view the magnificent sunsets. After watching council operate, he knows there must be changes and he has the energy and ideas to make the municipality work.

We spoke of the usual stuff that local politicians talk about at election time. What does he think of communicating with the public? The candidate abruptly said,” He doesn’t to talk to voters after the election – it’s a waste of time; they will have their chance again in four years.” I was taken aback until I realized it was exactly the same position that our present mayor, deputy mayor, and some councilors took during their time in office. The only difference being is that they said the opposite during the last election. I mentioned that was pretty blunt talk and he replied, “Why lie about it when you know you have no intention to do it?” Well, I must say, that was refreshing to hear.


What about honesty and integrity, I asked; all candidates say they will bring integrity to council so where do you stand? “Hogwash!” he exclaimed. “I have always been suspicious of people who have to convince you they will be honest. Shouldn’t honesty and integrity is a given? I have never written on my résumé that if hired I promise to be honest. Besides, what has integrity to do with success? In my business no one would become rich without a few conflicts of interest and closed door meetings (government calls them “in camera” meetings).” I was aghast. I said to myself, he will never get elected speaking so boldly. Then I paused for a moment and realized conflict of interest is not unknown in this municipality and the electors were not bothered about it, no outcry was heard by the citizens. This should no be a mark against him except that his honesty might hurt him. Citizens tend not to like honesty in a politician; they like to be comforted by blather.

I was beginning to warm to this guy; I asked him what he thought about transparency (a favourite topic of mine). Bristling like a porcupine facing a hound dog he snorted, “What nonsense, how can you get away with anything if government is open? Mr. Harper may have to lie and hide behind security reasons to hand out his defence contracts to friendly lobbyists but in Kincardine you do not need such blatant lies. Citizens here are used to the lack of openness. It may be the Prozac in the water system; it may be years of not reading anything except pulp fiction but people accept the fact that they will not hear honest communication from the politicians. This council could save thousands of dollars by open discussion with the citizens rather than hire consultants every time they want to build a backhouse but then, that would require openness.”

With a wry grin, the candidate went on to say, “In the entire ruckus over Reunion Beach, did anyone on Council tell you their reason for wanting to destroy the beach’s ecosystem? When they said they would not financially help the Pavilion to be completed for all to enjoy our heritage, or not financially support a heritage showplace, the Paddy Walker House, then turn around and spend thousands of dollars destroying our beaches, cutting down trees, trees that purify our air and retain our water…. Councillors and wan-a-bees will not tell us why they distain to build upon our heritage and maintain our natural life-giving beauty. Lastly, there are the mayor’s self-serving live advertisements, statements euphemistically called ‘press conferences’. where are the tough questions?” he asked, “Where are the questions regarding his secret meeting with Enbridge and where was the mayor during the sewage crisis and why did he need to meet secretly with OPG about the nuclear dump?” Conrad Black should be so lucky.

In leaving the candidate, I offer some advice. He no longer will have to be concerned about Guy Anderson, because Guy, unfortunately, is not running this time but he will need to watch out for Gord Campbell who puts the citizens first, always returns his calls and doesn’t want position for the sake of power. Gord should have been chair of the Works Committee but the closed shop in Council shut him out. In his first month on Council, Councillor Campbell suggested Council should end the practice of the town selling municipal land without clear identification and on only a day’s notice. This so infuriated council members that one actually threatened a law suit and another demanded Campbell put his suggestion in writing. It appeared new Councillor Campbell was upsetting a tidy arrangement of those in the know. I warned the candidate that he would have to watch out for Campbell if the candidate wants to practice any skullduggery.

While I would prefer Mother Teresa, I will vote for this candidate because, though he seems a scoundrel, he is honest about it. He might make the needed changes to Kincardine simply because he does not need money, has had more power than Council could offer and, unlike those who claim experience in management, actually has it.

August 23, 2006

Mayor Sutton has been seen lately at a number of events wearing his magic necklace. One picture should be sufficient for his memoirs. Bold ideas and results identify leadership, not trappings. I trust our next mayor will remember that.

Bruce Telecom is to be run by a Municipal Service Board. Glenn had three years to change the makeup of the Board but never did. Now he is forced to acknowledge the need for change. Our mayor is always the follower as seen when OPG led Glenn by the nose during the nuclear waste dump negotiations and then it was Enbridge who took Glenn down the garden path. And, of course, we cannot forget the Westario strike when the company attempted to destroy the union. Glenn refused to recognize strikers when he came out of a meeting and they were at the door and another time he drove by their picket line without taking a moment to speak with them. He could not bring himself to face them. It took Charlie Bagnato, mayor of Brockton, to bring a solution to a nasty situation just as it was Mark Kraemer, mayor of Saugeen Shores, who challenged Enbridge’s ‘profits are all that counts’ business approach. Glenn does not have the right stuff for leadership.

We are told there will be five voting members and three non-voting members on this new Board. The mayor has not told us why they came up with this combination. Do we assume three are ex-officio? And who will they be? Bruce Telecom and our Council may not be obliged by law to let taxpayers elect Board members but best practice and a sense of what is right in a democracy should move Council and the Municipality-owned company to do the ethical thing. The criteria for members could still be spelled out and, within that criteria, I have confidence the electors would make thoughtful choices; at least as thoughtful as any stacked committee. And what is this talk of “strong business skills”? Council never considered such skills when they were the Board even though this scribbler many times pointed out Council’s shortcomings as Board members. Furthermore, I trust “strong business skills” does not mean shop keepers and tire dealers. What is needed will be found among the men and women retirees to the community who bring many skills to the municipality but no ‘old boys’ please and certainly not Glenn, who has never demonstrated “strong business skills.”

Bruce Telecom is a company, owned by the Municipality of Kincardine, which has never produced a quarterly or annual report to the taxpayers or had elections to the Board. Is this a case of the inmates running the institution or simply unmitigated arrogance? They should remember what happened to the last person who said to citizens, “Let them eat cake.”

I noticed that the Mayor did not announce the election of our board member to Westario. But then, though it is the democratic thing to do, he was not forced into it.

In spite of Gord Jarrell’s, our first mayor’s, efforts to do otherwise, the council at that time made a thorough mess of setting up the Board of Directors. This is now an opportunity to do it right.

August 30 2006

This fall Kincardine elects a new council. It is an opportunity for citizens to nominate and elect candidates who will bring transparency and pride to our municipality. The citizens are ready for change; we need candidates who are ready for change.

The Kincardine I want is without the sound of petty bickering by parochial denizens of the 19th Century. I want to see a well-run municipality with proper signage that tells the travellers where they actually are: Kincardine Town Centre, Tiverton of Kincardine, Underwood of Kincardine, etc. I want to see a municipality that is ashamed to leave broken signs, such as the Reunion Beach sign, for all to view and snicker at our shoddiness , and a Kincardine ashamed to have water fountains that have not worked for years. I want a municipality that does not allow an attractive mural on the water tower to fade for lack of care. I want a Kincardine that maintains its infrastructure properly and timely rather than leaving it to citizens to be inconvenienced or suffer because of the town’s neglect.

It is not the workers on the front line that do not get the job done. In the military, the saying goes, there are no bad soldiers, just bad generals; the same applies in civilian life. When council lacks drive and moral leadership, council infects all in the system. When council, especially the mayor and deputy mayor, have no sense of quality and no pride of place then we can expect shoddiness.

Our public buildings should be maintained and used as public buildings. We need a council that is proud of its heritage and cultural events and knows their value to the community. The Annex (former post office) is misused and allowed to degenerate when it should be a sparkling jewel in Kincardine’s crown. The municipality’s refusal to fully support the Paddy Walker House and the Pavilion illustrates the lack of any appreciation of the past and vision for the future. All three buildings represent investment in the municipality’s future. Candidates without the smarts to recognize this should never be elected for they cannot see the future.

We must support candidates who have the wit to know that Kincardine’s expensive website has been a laughing stock during the three-year life of the current council and a continuing example of the low standards set by council. Is it any wonder water fountains do not work, inappropriate and broken signs are left unattended, sewage runs into homes and signage becomes an everlasting project? We need a council that will change the way the town works where simple tasks end up as costly embarrassments.

We should elect candidates who respect and listen to the citizens. The mayor had three years to change the municipal committee structure; he waited until there is to be an election.


A committee such as Emergency Services requires that the principal players on the emergency team be on the committee but we have a Building and Planning Committee on which four councillors sit but no citizens. Do councillors believe they are the only ones concerned with and knowledgeable about this subject? The committee structure and its reporting methods call for an overhaul assuring a stronger role for citizens, not just the juggling of councillors. Now that would be democratic.

We need candidates who have a vision for Kincardine that fits the realities of the 21st Century.