It’s a Canada Thing
[News] Canadians Face Evacuation Shakedown in Cairo!
Via The Toronto Star:
“First, they had unbelievable luck. Amid cancelled international flights and chaos in the streets, about 200 Canadian passengers made it past the desperate hordes at Cairo airport to board a Canadian-chartered flight out.
Then, the shakedown. Egyptian airport officials demanded cash — $2,000 from passengers, which they quickly collected on board — before the plane would be allowed to take off. That was on top of the “roughly $400” the Conservative government intends to charge them for passage to the “safe haven” cities of London, Paris or Frankfurt.
Canadian evacuees will then have to pay their way home from those locations, but the government promises to help with the bookings. It’s the first time ever in a rescue effort the government is charging to recover costs for evacuation flights.
In Ottawa, the government denied its Egyptian rescue effort was in disarray even as the Canadians were hit up for extravagant “departure” fees, could not reach embassy personnel by phone, and said Ottawa’s emergency voice mailbox was full. When word reached Ottawa about the runway cash demands, Canadian officials made an angry call to Egypt’s ambassador.
Canadian officials raised “concerns . . . about additional fees charged to release the plane” — fees the government was told were charged “for luggage” handling, said Melissa Lantsman, communications director for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon.”
CLICK HERE to read the full article.
First off, why wasn’t someone from the Canadian embassy there to make sure the evacuation of its citizen went smoothly??! Smdh! Yet more proof that Canada does not know how to look after its own citizens. Just ask Maher Arar, Suaad Hagi Mohamud, Abousfian Abdelrazik and Omar Khadr. Hmm… what do all of those people seem to have in common??
Introducing New Group: Birthday Girls – Balcony
New dance-punk/post-punk band from Ottawa. They sent their new self-titled EP to me shortly before Christmas via mediafire which would normally be grounds for immediate deletion but they’re Canadian so I gave them a pass and checked it out anyway. SOUNDCLOUD or BANDCAMP, people – read the guidelines.
Anyway, getting back on topic, here’s their self-description:
“Birthday Girls combines distorted bass with synthesizer, live drums, and harsh vocals for a distinctive sound that draws from our main influences including bands such as: Death From Above 1979, Bloc Party, The Strokes, Foals, No Age, and Wavves.”
I would add The Killers (at least musical style-wise) to that list if they can ever get to a point where they can afford a better producer. I see potential for something big here.
MP3: Birthday Girls – Balcony [direct download – right click and save as]
Connect with Birthday Girls online – facebook | myspace
Video: Christmas Rappin’ on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight feat. Kardinal Offishall, Maestro, Moka Only, Michie Mee, Buck 65, Saukrates and D-sisive
“As part of CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight Holiday Special…Canadian rappers Kardinal Offishall, Maestro, Moka Only, Michie Mee, Buck 65, Saukrates and D-sisive cover Kurtis Blow’s classic “Christmas Rappin”. Tune in to CBC on Christmas Eve for more special features.”
Connect George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight – twitter | website
[via TOflo.com]
Hockey Coach Greg Walsh Suspended a Year for Opposing Racism!
I mentioned this story when it broke a couple weeks back. I cannot believe the Ontario Minor Hockey Association didn’t do the right thing and rescind his suspension but instead actually lengthened it! What message does this send to people: that it’s OK to have your players utter racial slurs??! Like the Vancouver Sun/National Post puts it, when it comes to racism, hockey is still in the minors. This is a f-cking travesty! #SupportGregWalsh
Read more…
The Toronto Star’s take.
The CBC News’ take.
And here’s the lcoal news’ take:
The Peterborough Examiner.
Man wishes he’d had a coach like Greg Walsh back in 1973. [The Peterborough Examiner]
UPDATE: Hockey coach reinstated after protesting racial slur – social media outrage works! #SupportGregWalsh was tiny but effective. At least the OMHA did the right thing in the end but they never should have made their original decision in the first place. Now what abut an apology??! [Toronto Star]