Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: "He touched the perfect body of Suzanne with his mind, then wrote a poem about it. Or was it a song?..." READ MORE
Review: Myth Of The Opium Dens
There is an urban myth in Moose Jaw, Sask. that local Chinese built subterranean opium dens where God knows what went on. Local tour operators sold tickets to see the tunnels. Did Chinese drug fiends dig them? “Some may have worked and lived in these spaces to avoid prosecution,” says one titillating website. Not exactly. When Professor Allison Marshall of Brandon University set out to compile her intriguing social history of Chinese migration on the Prairies, she notes local gossips kept bringing up the opium dens of Moose Jaw. “Even to this day, the city perpetuates images of Chinese who dwelled underground in tunnels and lived the life of heathens in opium dens, laundries and gambling joints,” writes Marshall. “None of my research participants had much involvement with Moose Jaw, though non-Chinese participants were quick to try to steer me there,” adds Marshall. “Urban myths circulated that there were also tunnels in Winnipeg’s Chinatown; however, this is untrue.” READ MORE
Poll Queue Jumpers’ Benefits
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Privy Council commissioned confidential research on whether Canadians would support citizenship for illegal immigrants, records show. Researchers found stiff resistance against queue jumpers including by legal immigrants who spent “many years” following the rules, said a report: "We pass all the requirements to come here and they just walk in to Canada and Canada takes them in." READ MORE
MPs Disbelieve Clark’s Story
MPs yesterday said they suspected the Department of Foreign Affairs misled Parliament in defending its purchase of an $8.8 million Manhattan penthouse for New York Consul Tom Clark. One department manager testified she used a “mis-word” in writing a staff email stating Consul Clark asked for a new condo at taxpayers' expense: "Things you are saying are tough to believe." READ MORE
Execs ‘Reassessing’ CBC Cuts
CBC-TV will “reassess the need” for future cuts after paying its managers millions in bonuses, says a senior executive. Carol Najm, chief financial officer, defended bonus payments at the Senate national finance committee: "What sacrifices were asked of the management at CBC?" READ MORE
RCMP Deny China Soft Pedal
The RCMP yesterday denied soft-pedaling its treatment of Communist Party “police stations” used by the People’s Republic to intimidate Chinese emigres in Canada. Counsel at the Commission on Foreign Interference questioned why Mounties appeared distracted by “diplomacy.” READ MORE
Tells Drivers To Buy Electrics
More Canadians must buy electric cars, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said yesterday. A federal memo earlier proposed cabinet nearly double rebates: "Make sure we have adoption." READ MORE
Guest Commentary
I was a teenage lifeguard at the High River swimming pool where a little girl came to swim. Her name was Georgina. She and her brother Ricky were from the Hobbema Reserve. They were sent to live with foster parents in High River who had seven children of their own. I knew the foster family. They were good people. I remember them as sweet kids. Looking back, I don’t think they ever had a chance. I wondered, how many times in Georgina’s life did she feel good about herself?
