[. . . . ] Martin's pandering to China is at least consistent with his allowing non-democratic China to dictate our foreign policy toward democratic Taiwan. Canada does not allow any Tawiwanese official representation in Canada, and even bans democratically elected Taiwanese officials from setting foot in our country, even for family visits. And all at the insistence of China.

To Paul Martin's credit, he did launch one of his classic "very, very, very, very" attacks to show his is really, really, really, really concerned about his friendship with China's dictators.

[. . . . ] China has imposed a news blackout and posted additional soldiers and security forces in the city to restrict political dissidents who might use Mr. Zhao's death to revive the pro-democracy movement.

"We were interrogated for 20 minutes. They asked us a lot of questions, including how we found out where Zhao lived," producer Peter Harris said. "We got off easy because we had badges showing we were with the Prime Minister's trip." [. . . . ]

It was as bald as a message on the world’s biggest billboard–Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin swigging from a bottle of purified water in Kalumai, Sri Lanka. The photo op of a lifetime, eclipsed by free advertising for ZENON Environmental Inc. The water quenching the thirst of a Prime Minister was produced by the DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) water purifier. [. . . . ]

"Is Prime Minister Paul Martin stupid or arrogant?" Anna, a Canadian-born journalist now living in England asked me on the telephone yesterday.

Like others, the journalist is aghast about the recent conduct of Martin in Sri Lanka, and couldn’t fathom how he could visit Tamil Tiger terrorists, including two refused as immigrants to Canada last year, in the midst of so much human suffering.

"He’s neither stupid nor arrogant. He’s only [. . . . ]

Prime Minister Paul Martin says the issue of same-sex marriage is so important to him, he'd be willing to call an election -- if he has to.

[. . . . ] "It's not my intention to go into an election. We want to govern,". . .

[. . . . ] "As far as I'm concerned [polygamy] will always be against the law." [as homosexuality was?]

[. . . . ] In an open letter to Martin, Toronto's Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic voiced his opposition to same-sex marriages and urged Martin to use the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

[. . . . ] "Rights are rights are rights," Cotler told The Globe in response to Ambrozic's request. [Rights are slippery; not too long ago, it was illegal to practice homosexuality.]

Cotler said if the notwithstanding clause was used, it "would really be an acknowledgment by the government that it is violating rights."

Harper wants to preserve the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman, while protecting the rights of same-sex couples by creating a new kind of civil union.

What does an inspection of the Bahamas, your online stock portfolio investment service, half the electricity production and distribution in Australia, Canadian oil, trans-Pacific fiber-optics, the Panama Canal, and William Shatner's horrible "singing" commercial endorsements of Priceline.com have in common?

Li Ka-shing.

Careful examination of the Chinese tycoon's growing empire and his cozy relationship with the Communist Chinese government reveals the potential for an insidious manipulation of Western ports, markets, utilities and telecommunications that could apply crippling pressure to the United States and her few remaining allies. Indeed, through Li Ka-shing's empire -- a front for Communist Chinese expansion -- the Mainland does not need to invade Western democracies or launch missile attacks against them to flex its muscle. It can simply threaten to shut down public utilities and key industries which it now controls -- throwing Western markets into complete turmoil, if not disaster.

The frightening story begins in 1979, when Li Ka-shing purchased what became the controlling interest in one of the oldest, 19th century British trading houses, or "hongs" of Hong Kong, known as Hutchison-Whampoa.

[. . . . ] If reports that Li Ka-shing is a de facto ministry-level official of the Communist Chinese government are true, it would explain much of China's aggressive posturing on the world stage and provide a stark warning to a seemingly complacent American public -- the same Americans who yawned at Chinese arms dealers buying access to President Clinton and seem willing to accept candidate Gore's iced tea-sodden claims of "no controlling legal authority" concerning his relationship with convicted felon Maria Hsia.

Will Americans continue to stand by idly as their sovereignty, and the public infrastructure of their allies, is sold to the highest Communist Chinese bidder?

If a Muslim legally married to more than one wife by the laws of his homeland emigrates to Canada, wives other than the first are not presently recognized as such. However, in this diverse country which encourages immigrants to retain their culture, should this be so?

[. . . ] If marriage is not exclusively between one man and one woman, based on religion and precedent, how should its borders be determined?

The federally funded Status of Women Canada is sufficiently confident the question will arise, that it has launched a study to prepare itself for the debate. As a womens' rights advocate, it will consider how widespread polygamy is in Canada -- for it does exist, quietly ignored by Charter-shy solicitors general -- and seek arguments to show that it violates the spirit of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

[. . . ] Yet, the government response -- that polygamy will never be an issue because bigamy is illegal, and legislation will limit marriage to two people -- is insufficient. Canada's courts are famously ready to uphold their interpretation of the Charter by striking down, or even rewriting, the nation's laws -- something which the gay lobby has already done well from.

Strange things happen when rights collide. In same-sex marriage, the argument was equality, the defence was religion. With polygamy, the argument will be religious freedom, equality will be relegated to the defence. [. . . . ]

[. . . . ] During his last day of testimony yesterday, [formerly head of Canada Post, Andre] Ouellet launched a heated attack against the Auditor General Sheila Fraser for criticizing his way of doing business in her scathing February 2004 report on sponsorships.

Ouellet vehemently argued that Canada Post should be free to follow its own contracting and management rules since it turns a profit and is not spending federal dollars.

"I think it's unfair to put the bar so high for Canada Post," Ouellet said. "You must permit Crown corporations not to be bogged down by a bureaucracy. Ouellet was suspended with pay after the AG's report was released and resigned in July. He was the highest-paid public servant.