Category: Politics

Doug Ford Will Beat John Tory in Toronto Mayor Race

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Politics

There are fewer than ten days left in this long, brutal, but very exciting ten month long mayoral campaign.

But contrary to all the pundits on both sides of the political spectrum, I believe the stars are aligning for Doug Ford to beat the frontrunner John Tory. And hand John Tory his well-deserved sixth career political defeat.

Could you imagine the heads of all the leftist anti-Ford haters- exploding in the downtown head offices of the CBC, CTV, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and NOW Magazine?Shades of downtown Baghdad. But I digress.

The so-called political experts of the leftist media had been hyping and promoting for months their favorite son, their White Knight-  Olivia Chow to replace the controversial Mayor Rob Ford.

Until much to their chagrin and astonishment, they discovered that Olivia Chow’s insurmountable lead, had vanished over the summer. Like Justin Trudeau’s credibility over ISIS.

Faster than you can say publicly- subsidized Hazelburn co-op meets illegal Chinatown rub and tug parlor

And all of a sudden, in September, Chow was tied for second with Rob Ford with John Tory leading.

Then faster than you can say publicly- subsidized Hazelburn co-op meets illegal Chinatown rub and tug parlor, Chow further dropped to third place- first behind Rob Ford and then Doug Ford who replaced his brother on the ballot.

Overnight, the populist Rob Ford, with the personal issues, was replaced by his more solid, but less charismatic and seemingly less popular Doug Ford.Once again, the pro Chow political pundits, had hoped that this new development would be a political game changer for Chow.

But alas, the pundits were proven wrong again.

Doug Ford, who was initially written off, as an unpleasant and mean bully, has run a surprisingly very effective and disciplined campaign.

Who would have thunk?

Successfully labeled Tory as a downtown, out of touch self-entitled Rosedale Golf Club Wasp elitist

In the numerous debates against Chow and Tory, Ford has handled himself well. He has a better knowledge of the issues and the inner workings of council than his two opponents. Ford has been firm, but charming. Argumentative, but personable. He has thoroughly manhandled the outclassed, inarticulate Chow. And Ford has successfully labeled Tory as a downtown, out of touch self-entitled Rosedale Golf Club Wasp elitist, solely propped up by old family money and family connections.

Doug Ford has kept to the winning message of respect for the taxpayers. Keeping taxes low. Building the Scarborough subway. And subways in general. Finding government efficiencies, ie privatizing garbage services east of Yonge Street. And promoting business and jobs in Toronto.

It is true, on occasion, Ford has taken a shot at his fellow Toronto city councilors. Recently, he was criticized for calling them “a pack of wolves. “  Personally, to be compared to those 44 spendthrift, free-loading Toronto politicos- is an insult to wolves.

They’re more like a pack of jackals.

Ford Nation, that hardy band of mostly non-white multicultural and multi-ethnic working class communities in the suburbs have stuck with Doug Ford. They are as fired up about Doug Ford as they were with their hero, Rob Ford,  who always had their back.

I believe the more disciplined, clean-living and buttoned down, Doug Ford, a proven self-made successful business man, has picked up additional support in downtown Toronto- Chow and Tory Country.

Surprisingly, Doug seems to generally enjoy campaigning among the people.

Contrast a smiling Doug surrounded by laughing Ford voters with an unsmiling, driven Chow who always seems to be on a forced Mao-like march through the city.

A recent Forum Research poll still has Doug Ford, at 33% within striking distance of Tory at 39%. With Chow at 23%.

This is Doug Ford’s likely path to victory.

Notwithstanding the Forum Research poll, my own internal polling has Ford a few points closer.

Firstly, all Ford opponents agree that polling probably underestimates Ford’s strength due to a reluctance of certain Ford supporters to publicly support Ford even with pollsters.

Secondly, Ford is well positioned in second. If Ford was tied with Tory, anti-Ford Chow supporters would leave their favored candidate and hold their noses and vote Tory to stop Ford.

Since Tory is apparently solidly in the lead, there will be fewer strategic voting by Chow supporters.

Thirdly, I also believe that Chow has a strong ground game and should bring out to vote on election day, more supporters than the polls have estimated. Thus taking more voters away from Tory.

Conversely, I believe that Tory’s support is a mile wide, but an inch deep.

Bland, inoffensive Tory does not command the same fierce loyalty as Ford Nation supporters.

I think some Tory supporters, out of apathy-  will stay home.

So it comes down to Ford’s supporters especially in the vote-rich communities of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.

I believe that these steadfast Ford supporters are mad as hell about how Rob and now Doug have been treated by the elitist press and the downtown elites. These communities are also mad as hell as to how they have been mistreated and ignored by these very same elitists. They love the Fords.  They believe only Doug Ford can represent their interests at city hall.

I predict that these suburbanites are going to come out in such numbers for Ford as to blow away Tory and his elitist cabal of special downtown Toronto interests.

We shall see history made on October 27th, folks.

This election will be epic!!!

Toronto Globe’s Antipathy Towards the Fords Has Tainted Its Coverage of Olivia Chow, John Tory

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Olivia Chow, Politics

I have been reading the Toronto Globe and Mail, religiously, for over 40 years.

At one time, the Globe was considered very highly as Canada’s national paper, “The New York Times (NYT) of the North”.

Note this was during the golden newspaper years of “The Pentagon Papers” and “Watergate” when the Washington Post and NYT were the “go to” media for objective, unbiased reporting and analytical and critical commentary.And the Globe was not far behind.

But today, the Globe- a mere shadow of its former glory.

I must confess. I still enjoy reading some Globe’s columnists. Liz Renzetti’s Saturday column is always sharp and funny. Ian Brown still writes beautifully.

Margaret Wente still impresses me with her courageous anti-liberal writing. And Liam Lacey’s film reviews are consistently bang on.

I also miss the excellent political reporting of Karen Howlett, former Queen’s Park senior reporter, who was always tough, but fair and never pulled any punches- with any politician regardless of political or ideological background.

But the same cannot be said for the current crop of Globe urban reporters and columnists- especially those involved with the almost year long Toronto mayoral election.

Globe’s professionalism

Okay. I get it. The Globe and its staff were so turned off by the personal problems of Mayor Rob Ford ( the crack smoking, the alcoholism, the inappropriate language while inebriated) that it parked its journalistic integrity at the door, when it came to reporting on Rob Ford.

I do not agree with this position. It reflects badly on the Globe’s professionalism.

But what I further do not understand is why has the Globe failed to hold to account the other candidates- Olivia Chow and John Tory.

From practically the moment Chow entered the race in March, 2014, her campaign was in trouble.

Although Chow had name recognition and was known as popular Jack Layton’s spouse, Chow also carried a ton of political baggage. She was feared as an extreme “tax and spend” lefty, way to the left of David Miller and closer to the scary John Sewell.

Many Toronto voters had never forgiven her for living in a subsidized three bedroom co-op unit while her family income exceeded $120, 000. Chow also had a negative reputation for having one of the highest office and personal expense budgets of all Ontario federal politicians.

Right out of the box, she insulted and alienated a majority of the Toronto voters in the vote-rich suburbs of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough with her proposal to terminate the very popular and fully funded Scarborough subway for a third-rate bus and LRT solution.

Her first debate was a disaster. She was clearly defeated by Rob Ford. Chow came across in that debate as inarticulate, uninformed, confused and unintelligent.

I believe that Chow never recovered from that disastrous performance and her campaign went downhill from there.

But as to the Globe reporters, they ignored all of Chow’s negative baggage and they ignored her poor debating style,  her uninspiring speeches and her unpopular policies.

Instead, it appeared the Globe reporters and analysts tried to prop up Chow for months with biased and uncritical “puff” pieces as indicated herein. (Here, Here, and Here)

It took the Globe about 7 months (September, 2014) to publicly admit that Chow’s election was in serious trouble.

But consistent with its anti-Ford bias, the Globe then turned to propping up and implicitly promoting John Tory, by once again failing to do its journalistic job and critically holding Tory to account.

For example, the Globe failed to take Tory to task for his classless personal attack on Doug Ford on the very day Doug announced that his brother Rob had cancer, was withdrawing and Doug was taking his place in the campaign.

Secondly, the Globe failed to properly call into question the gaps in John Tory’s business career- ie his many years of being on the board of directors of Charter Communications which went into bankruptcy.

The Globe also failed to question how John Tory with very little media experience could be hired as CEO of Rogers Media by family friend, Ted Rogers.

Recall Ted Rogers was first a lawyer at the firm founded by John Tory’s father and uncle, Torys. And then Ted Rogers and Rogers Communications became a major client of the same firm.

In this instance, the Globe failed miserably to ask and answer the musical question, “If John Tory’s last name was “Smith”, would John “Smith” have had any business career?”

The Globe’s crack investigative team also failed to delve into John Tory’s involvement with Rogers’ publicly disastrous “negative option billing scheme, during Tory’s time at Rogers Media.

In a Toronto Region Board of Trade debate, Tory had the chutzpah to deny that he was at Rogers when negative option billing was introduced.

In fact, I recall Tory was hired in 1995, one month after this negative option billing policy was introduced at Rogers Cable. And I remember distinctly that John Tory was given the task of managing consumer opposition to this Rogers’ policy, where consumers were additionally billed for services to which they had not consented.

Instead of critically analyzing Tory’s business career, the Globe instead hit a new journalistic low with its recent so-called expose of Doug Ford’s business experience at his family firm, Deco Labels.

Crack investigative journalist Robyn Doolittle, ( remember her from the Rob Ford crack video expose) thought she made a journalistic scoop by revealing that Doug Ford’s attempt to set up New Jersey branch met with failure.

Conversely, she proved that Doug Ford was a superior businessman to Tory, because Doolittle’s article instead revealed that Doug Ford single-handedly turned a non-existent Chicago office into a successful operation, purely as a result of his own efforts.

Ironically, other large Canadian companies, unlike Deco Labels-Chicago- failed to succeed in the United States ( ie Royal Bank, Canadian Tire and Peoples Credit Jewelers, to name a few). So the fact that Deco Labels- New Jersey failed, does not detract from Doug Ford’s success in the tough American market.
In sum, how the mighty Globe has fallen.

The Globe’s failure to hold Fords’ opponents to account during this mayoral election has called into question its journalistic integrity and objectivity.

Time will tell whether the Globe will ever recapture its journalistic reputation.

Five Time Loser John Tory Once Again Snatching Defeat from Jaws of Victory in Toronto Mayoral Race

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Politics

Once again on the brink of victory, John Tory has falsely accused his main rival, Doug Ford, of being, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic.”

It looks like déjå vu, all over againIn 2007,  the then Ontario provincial Conservative leader John Tory, ahead in the polls in a provincial campaign.  was cruising to victory. But then Tory, unbeknownst to his closest advisers, decided to pander to the many ethnic and religious groups in Ontario. So Tory then launched into a campaign for the public funding of private faith-based schools.

That horribly, politically bonehead move, lost the provincial Conservatives the election and Tory personally lost in his own bid for a provincial seat in the Ontario legislature.

Fast forward to the Toronto Mayoral campaign of 2014. John Tory, is once again in the lead.

As of a few days ago, Tory was leading his next rival, Doug Ford, (brother of the infamous and outgoing Mayor Rob Ford), by a solid margin of 42 to 28.

But that strong lead seems to have disappeared overnight.

Here is what happened.In a recent mayoral debate,  at a local Toronto Jewish community centre, fringe candidate, Ari Goldkind, who described himself as Jewish,( but not religious), lashed out at rival Doug Ford, running for mayor, for derogatory comments made not by Doug Ford, but by his brother Mayor Rob Ford, about Jewish people.

(Note Mayor Rob Ford had withdrawn from the mayoral race due to illness and had previously apologized for these intemperate remarks, made while heavily inebriated)

The implication was that Doug Ford shared these views and was also anti-Semitic.

For the record, Doug Ford, is a teetotaler, an exemplary family man, a successful businessman and a real straight arrow.  Doug Ford had publicly condemned his brother Rob’s behavior and he had distanced himself from such conduct.

Doug Ford is not racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic. He has never expressed any such comments or acted in any way as to suggest he was deserving of any of these horrible labels.

John Tory knew this.

But John Tory, as in 2007, believed it was necessary to pander to potential voters, outside his natural base of self-satisfied and self-entitled elitist twits- in this case,  the Toronto Jewish, black and gay communities.

In response to being criticized, by association, as an anti-Semite,  Doug Ford’s inelegantly defended himself by suggesting he had lots of Jewish friends and associates.

Unfortunately, this response was met by some booing by the predominantly Jewish crowd.

(As an aside, as a Jewish person, I was disgusted by the response of the predominantly Jewish crowd, which I found offensive, insulting and disrespectful. Especially, since Doug and Rob Ford had in the past stood up for the Jewish community by trying to ban the Jew-hating, anti-Semitic Queers Against Israeli Apartheid group from marching in the publicly-funded annual Gay Pride Parade. )

As reported in the Toronto Sun, John Tory issued a statement after the debate accusing Doug Ford of using “the classic refuge of racists, anti-Semites and homophobes” to defend Mayor Ford’s “inexcusable comments” about Jewish people.

John Tory’s unfair smear against Doug Ford has badly backfired against John Tory.

In response, Doug Ford has taken to the airwaves and the press and has demanded a public apology from John Tory, for calling him such hateful names without any basis or justification.

It seems Doug Ford’s wife is Jewish, and she was deeply offended by Tory’s unfounded accusations against her husband. As was Jeff Silverstein,  (also Jewish) formerly Rob Ford’s director of communications and now Doug Ford’s director of communications.

Mr. Silverstein confirmed that he would not have worked for the Fords if either was anti-Semitic. He confirmed that the Fords deeply cared about the Jewish community as their fight against Queers Against Israeli Apartheid so indicated. Silverstein concluded that Tory’s comment was a really low blow.

And quite ironic, as revealed by Doug Ford, considering that for many years, John Tory was a member of the exclusive Toronto Rosedale Golf Club, which specifically banned Jews as members.

Coincidentally, the latest poll from Forum Research,  a day after Tory’s attack on Doug Ford,  indicates that Doug Ford (37%)  has surged forward and is now in a statistical tie with the faltering John Tory (39%).

It is clear that once again the silver spoon, self-titled ,  swishy Rosedale-bred in the bone,  John Tory, is demonstrating the same poor political judgment, that has plagued him throughout his thirty years of political life.

In short, Tory’s arrogance, stubbornness, and political and public myopia are finally coming to the fore.

Tory’s comments have enraged Doug Ford’s supporters, especially his many supporters in the Jewish and ethnic communities.

Tory’s comments have also accomplished the impossible- turned the hard-driving, tough-talking Doug Ford into a more popular and sympathetic character.

Elections have been won on less.

I predict that Tory’s ill-advised comments against Doug Ford and his refusal to apologize for such comments, may have just cost him the election, less than 3 weeks away.

Ford Nation is still a Political Force

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics, Rob Ford

The leftist pundits, (CBC, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail) have never understood Ford Nation and have always under-estimated its staying power and influence.

Initially, the leftist mainstream Canadian press dismissed Ford Nation as an angry group of low income, uneducated, white socially conservative men and women.It is true that Ford Nation is predominantly suburban based.

But its members come from all age groups and from all socio-economic groups and strata of society. Ford Nation draws from all the major racial, ethnic and religious communities of Toronto. It is a true multicultural group. Regular polling and the populations at Ford Fests, confirm Ford Nation’s breadth, depth and diversity.

Even many downtown Bay Street types- the so-called elitists, ie lawyers, doctors, accountants, bankers and brokers also proudly call themselves Ford Nation supporters.

Through all of Mayor Rob Ford’s personal troubles, Ford Nation stood by Rob Ford and kept him in the race.

When Rob Ford had to withdraw due to illness, the pundits thought Ford Nation was finished. But this amazing diverse band of men and women stuck together and transferred their loyalty and support to Rob Ford’s brother, city councilor Doug Ford.

As a result, contrary to all the experts, Doug Ford is leading Olivia Chow and has a great shot to take down John Tory come October 27, election day for the Mayor of Toronto.Rob Ford may be the heart and soul of Ford Nation, but his brother Doug has performed better than expected in the debates, in interviews and on the campaign trail.

Doug Ford has forcefully and effectively taken on both Chow and Tory and hammered them on their deficiencies, while at the same time, articulating forcefully the message of respect for the taxpayers, keeping taxes low, ensuring services are more efficient and promoting subways, subways, subways.

In addition, Doug Ford’s opponents, can no longer base their campaigns, on merely attacking the character of Doug Ford, who does not carry the same baggage as his brother.

This election has shown that Ford Nation is still a force municipally and can be an effective force federally if properly motivated and treated by Conservative Prime Minister Harper and his federal organizers. And if Harper effectively taps into the spirit and support of Ford Nation.

Because the spirit of Ford Nation is not limited to the Greater Toronto Area, but extends throughout Ontario-in all the big cities, suburbs and small towns of Ontario. And beyond Ontario as well.

Former Conservative Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty ( now deceased) knew that. And as a result, he was a steadfast supporter of Rob Ford and Ford Nation.

Rob Ford will be elected councilor and I hope he beats his cancer. Doug Ford, though trailing Tory, still can pull out a victory as mayor. But whether Doug wins or loses, Ford Nation will survive and will be a major factor in the next federal election.

In order for PM Harper to win Ontario and Canada, and beat the popular, but dangerous, Justin Trudeau, federal leader of the Liberal Party, Harper needs the support of Ford Nation.

I hope Harper and his people are listening.

Mayoral Candidate Olivia Chow’s Disturbing Support for Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Olivia Chow, Politics

In a recent Toronto mayoral debate,  leading mayoral candidate John Tory reopened the debate about whether the controversial Toronto group, known as Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) should be permitted to march in the very popular annual summer Toronto Pride Parade.

Mr. Tory, to his credit, argued that QuAIA, which promotes a virulent message, should not be permitted to participate in a Pride Parade that is publicly funded by Toronto taxpayers.Mr. Tory also argued that if he was elected Mayor, he would deny public funding to the Pride organization, if the Pride group permitted QuAIA to march in its annual parade.

On the other hand, Ms. Chow in the same debate,  supported QuAIA’s right to protest in a publicly-funded Pride Parade, on the basis that the Toronto City solicitor opined that the use of “Israel Apartheid” was “protected speech” and that the Toronto City Manager Penachetti believed that the participation of QuAIA, did not violate the City of Toronto’s policies against hate and discrimination.

Again, to Tory’s credit, he stated emphatically at the debate, that he believed the city’s position was wrong and such anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish views had no place in a Pride Parade which celebrates human rights, tolerance and inclusivity.

I agree with John Tory’s view and here is why I believe Chow’s support of the anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic QuAIA, is unprincipled, immoral and contrary to Canadian values.

Anti-Israeli Apartheid movement is funded, financed and sponsored by Hamas

The anti-Israeli Apartheid movement is funded, financed and sponsored by Hamas.

According to Hamas’ constitution,  it wishes to kill all Jews and to eliminate Israel from the Middle East. These views are clearly anti-Semitic and hateful.

For Hamas, the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement is an attempt to delegitimize the state of Israel and destroy it diplomatically. Hamas wants to do to Israel diplomatically, what it cannot do, to date, militarily.

Accordingly, the then Federal Liberal leader Ignatieff, labelled the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement as anti-Semitic.

This view has been endorsed by current Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. I also believe that this is the view of Thomas Mulcair,  leader of the federal NDP.

Conservative Prime Minister Harper’s public condemnation of the anti-Israel Apartheid and BDS movements as blatantly anti-Semitic, is also very well known and has been widely reported.

Furthermore, the Ontario Legislature has unanimously condemned Israeli Apartheid week as “odious and unacceptable”.

So we have two levels of government that have condemned the Israeli Apartheid movement.

In the subject debate, Chow argued that her pro-QuAIA position was based upon her reliance upon expert opinion.

Interestingly, Chow is a bit selective when she relies upon experts. The very same City Manager Pennachetti in the past issued a major report praising the Scarborough subway extension, which Chow chose to ignore, because such a report undermined her pro Scarborough bus and LRT view.

It seems once again, Chow is hiding behind selective experts’ opinions and is refusing to take a principled and moral stand.

The Canadian federal government (together with US, Britain and the EU) has also publicly maintained that the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement, which singles out Israel ( while ignoring the human rights abuses of Syria, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Iran etc) is more than mere opposition to Israeli government policies, but is in fact Jew hatred and hence anti-Semitism.

This is a view also held by a majority of the members of the Ontario legislature.

In view of these facts, Chow appears on shaky moral ground to support QuAIA’s right to march in a publicly-funded parade.

John Tory stated that he respected the right of QuAIA to protest , but it can protest anywhere it wants, just not in a Toronto taxpayer and publicly-funded Pride Parade.

Another point Chow should consider is that Hamas, the key backer and beneficiary of the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement – kills, tortures and discriminates against the Gazan LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) community.

Contrast that with the fair and equal treatment of the LGBT community in Israel.

So why is Chow putting herself on the same side of Hamas, which kills, tortures and discriminates against the Gazan LGBT community?

Since the Pride Parade is about tolerance, the celebration of the LGBT community and inclusivity, why does Chow not take the position that the anti-Israeli QuAIA ( which many Jewish and non Jewish Torontonians believe to be a hateful, Jew-hating, anti-Semitic organization) has no place in the Pride Parade?

By Chow failing to take a clear and principled stand against the anti-Semitism of QuAIA, Olivia Chow risks being tarred with the same toxic brush.

Leftist Mayoral Candidate Olivia Chow Endorses Radical Muslim Terrorist Sympathizer for School Board

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Olivia Chow, Politics

This very strange Toronto city election took another bizarre twist when Olivia Chow, former New Democratic Party Member of Parliament—and now running to replace the current mayor Rob Ford—came out publicly in favour of Ausma Malik, a very well-known local Toronto Radical Muslim terrorist sympathizer.

In a tweet seen throughout Toronto, and possibly celebrated in Hezbollah’s terrorists’ camps in Syria, Chow tweeted,“En route to office opening for @m_layton,@joe_cressy +@ausmalik. Great candidates that share my values for a caring, better city. #TOpoli”

Mike Layton,  (former NDP leader Jack Layton’s son and Chow’s stepson ) is running for re-election for Toronto city councilor in the Trinity-Spadina ward. Joe Cressy, a former long time assistant to Chow, is running for election in the other councilor position in the same ward.

And last but not least, Ausma Malik is sharing the same campaign office with Layton and Cressy, and is apparently running on the NDP ticket for Toronto district school board (TDSB) trustee in the same Trinity-Spadina school district.

Note, Trinity–Spadina is the same district or federal riding, which Ms. Chow represented for many years as a federal member of the leftist socialist New Democratic Party.

Clearly they are all one big, tight, happy family.

In response to the public endorsement by her stepson and sitting councilor Mike Layton and a few other leftist Toronto councilors, including candidate for school board trustee Ausma Malik, seen in this photo, Chow tweeted, (referring also to Malik)

“Strong candidates w/strong values+ track records:@joe_cressy @ausmalik @ maritstile.Thx for the support#TOpoli”

So who is this Ausma Malik, with the strong track record and strong values, which Chow clearly shares?

Well, firstly, Malik’s credentials as a radical Muslim terrorist supporter and sympathizer are impeccable.

In June 2006, Malik (then a University of Toronto student leader) organized and chaired a forum at University of Toronto, for impressionable Muslim youth called, “On Our Own Terms: Muslim Youth Speak Out”.

One of the first orders of business of this forum was to show support and raise money for 18 local Toronto radical Muslim men who had been recently charged at that time with terrorism for allegedly conspiring to blow up the Toronto Stock Exchange, raid the Canadian Parliament Buildings and behead then Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Apparently these radical Muslim men had been training in the woods north of Toronto and had ordered and received what they thought to be three metric tons of fertilizer to make bombs when they were apprehended by Canadian security forces who had been watching this group for months.

In 2009 the radical Muslim ringleader of the Toronto 18 and Mississauga resident Zakaria Amara pleaded guilty to terrorism charges and he together with several of his co-conspirators were convicted of terrorism.

Recall this is 2006-  eight years before the deadly radical Muslim terrorist group,  ISIS,  began killing, torturing and terrorizing Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Iraq and Syria and engaging in public beheadings.

That’s a real nice bunch of people you support, Ms. Malik.

In addition, back in July, 2006, Ms. Malik, as student leader, spoke at a pro Hezbollah rally in Toronto covered by the Globe and Mail.

Recall at that time, in 2006,  the radical Muslim terrorist group Hezbollah had kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and had launched missiles from Lebanon at Israeli border towns.  Israel then retaliated by bombing Hezbollah missile sites and camps and sending in Israeli troops to attack Hezbollah’s military bases.

At the pro Hezbollah rally, Malik, in support of Hezbollah’s actions, called Israel’s actions “state-sanctioned murder”.

At the same rally, the Globe reported that the demonstrators cheered when it was announced that Hezbollah had killed 22 Israeli soldiers who were fighting in southern Lebanon.

Apparently, Malik and her Hezbollah supporters did not care that Canada, the United States, The European Union, Britain, Australia and Israel had labeled Hezbollah a terrorist organization and considered it a Jew-hating anti-Semitic international jihadist organization bent on the destruction of Israel and the removal of all Jews from the Middle East.

Lastly, in 2007, Malik took part in a report on the problems Muslim students faced in Ontario colleges and universities. As reported in The Toronto Star,  Malik helped write a report which decried the lack of appropriate food choices and prayer space, and condemned the inflexible academic policies that were at odds with (Islamic) religious obligations (ie separate classes for men and women)

In other words, Malik wished to impose Sharia law- compliant practices on Ontario’s secular educational system.

So to recap, Ausma Malik, running for Toronto District School Board trustee, is an admitted supporter, fund-raiser and sympathizer of local radical Muslim terrorism. She is also an enthusiastic supporter of Hezbollah- a Jew-hating,  anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli terrorist group.

And Ms. Malik would like to bring in or impose Sharia-type religious and educational practices in Ontario schools?

So, Ms. Chow, are you still sure you whole-heartedly support these “great values” of Ms. Malik?

And is this the type of person you want running our Toronto school system and influencing our children?

John Tory’s Campaign Rocked by Sudden Entry of Doug Ford for Toronto Mayor

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Politics, Rob Ford

About a week ago, it appeared that John Tory, leading in the race for Toronto mayor, was finally going to bury his political reputation as a five time loser.

(Campaign manager for PC leader Kim Campbell’s disastrous 1993 federal Tory campaign; loser to David Miller in Toronto mayoral race of 2003; loser to Kathleen Wynne in 2007 Ontario provincial election- Don Valley West riding;  loser to Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty as Ontario Tory leader in same election; and loser in a 2009 Ontario provincial by-election for long-held Conservative provincial seat of Kawartha Lakes- Haliburton- Brock)

At that time, a Nanos poll of decided voters had Tory firmly in the lead with 42% and Rob Ford (28%) and Olivia Chow (26%), both campaigns apparently stalled .

A subsequent September 8, Forum Research poll had Tory at 40%, Rob Ford at 28% and Chow dropping further to 21%.

Then this crazy race took a turn to the truly bizarre. And John Tory’s path to victory is now-  not so certain.

On Wednesday, September 10, Rob Ford checked himself into the hospital complaining of severe stomach pains.

By Friday, September 12, it was clear that Rob Ford may be suffering from life-threatening cancer. As a result, Rob Ford withdrew from the mayor al race and was replaced by his brother and his campaign manager, Doug Ford.

Forum Research conducted a snap poll that same day. And contrary to the pundits, revealed some surprising results.

Doug Ford was breathing down Tory’s neck

Tory’s support had increased to 41%, but now Doug Ford was breathing down Tory’s neck at 34%, just 7 points behind. And Chow had fallen further behind at 19%.

As with Rob Ford, Doug Ford’s support is with lower income residents, men and suburbanites.

As I expected,  80% of Ford Nation which supported Rob Ford will support Doug Ford.

Doug Ford leads among those residents earning between $20,000-60,000, Toronto’s heartland.

Also he is more competitive than Rob Ford, in the suburbs: Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.

John Tory should be afraid. He should be very afraid.

To date Tory’s campaign, though well-managed and well-funded, has been quite lackluster.

Tory has primarily campaigned on the basis that he is fiscally as responsible as Rob Ford, but without the drama and questionable behavior.
Accordingly, many Toronto voters, who liked Rob Ford’s fiscal policies, but were personally offended by Rob Ford’s personal issues, parked their votes with Tory.

With the arrival of Doug Ford on the scene, a straight-laced family man, teetotaler and tough fiscal conservative- Toronto voters have another choice other than John Tory and the socially conscious Olivia Chow.

John Tory has a sorry political history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory ( public funding of faith-based private schools)  with some of the worst political instincts in Canadian political history (recall his negative advertising of Jean Chretien’s partially paralyzed face during the Kim Campbell campaign debacle).

On Friday, as Doug Ford, the Ford family and Ford supporters were still reeling from news that Rob Ford had withdrawn from the mayoral race and was potentially suffering life-threatening cancer, John Tory exhibited his signature political tone deafness of which he is infamous.

Instead of just wishing Rob Ford a speedy recovery, Tory decided to take this opportunity to attack Doug Ford for being divisive and for probably being a much worse mayor than Rob Ford. Tory’s diatribe was shameful and low.  Hitting Doug Ford,  a man who is down and grieving for the health of his brother whom he truly loves.  Tory demonstrated a true lack of class. With this performance, Tory came across as a hard, self-entitled, insensitive twit.

So much for John Tory’s alleged likeability factor.

In contrast, Doug Ford, that same Friday night,  spoke movingly of his brother’s condition and that he, Doug,  had decided, reluctantly at the request of his brother,  to take up the torch of his brother and continue his brother’s fight. Doug Ford, was thoughtful, emotional,  warm, compassionate, humbled, diplomatic and subdued.

Contrary to the pundits, he did not lash out against John Tory’s earlier criticism.

Doug Ford is smart, disciplined, charitable, generous and a caring family man.

I fully suspect that in the next six weeks of the campaign, Toronto voters will become familiar with these positive qualities of Doug Ford.

Doug Ford will be a formidable opponent to John Tory.

And this exciting race ain’t over yet, folks!

Why the Unlikeable Radical Leftist Olivia Chow Lost The Toronto Mayoral Election

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Olivia Chow, Politics

There are over two months left in this mayoral race. But Olivia Chow’s dream of finally stepping out of the shadow of her more politically talented husband, Jack Layton, has turned into a political and humiliating nightmare.

Several months ago, when Chow jumped into the race, the obsequious mainstream media,  that is, the journalistically suspect CBC, Toronto Star and Globe and Mail, declared her the frontrunner. And the candidate to beat. .

But according to a recent Forum Research poll, Chow has fallen precipitously from first place-( 35% )to third place- 25%, two points behind the unsinkable Mayor Rob Ford (27%), and 10 big points behind the surging John Tory (35%).

Two recent events have further killed her chances of election.

Councilor and former TTC Chairman Karen Stintz, one of Chow’s opponents on the right, has dropped out of the race. Stintz had been stuck at 5% for most of the campaign.

Stintz fiscally conservative supporters will avoid Chow like the Ebola plague. And instead will gravitate to Chow’s opponents,  John Tory and Rob Ford. Catapulting both of them further ahead of the nose-diving Chow.

The Prince of Darkness

But Chow’s most egregious error to date in this campaign, (and there have been a manure load of errors) was to publicly lie about the role of one of her key political advisers.

None other than The Prince of Darkness himself.

The director of her own war room operations.

A black political operator so cunning, tough, brutal and merciless.

Imagine the evil spawn of Tricky Dick Nixon and Dick Cheney- the incomparable Warren Kinsella.

In an over the top, tweet, that will certainly go down as one the nastiest public assaults, Kinsella accused John Tory of being a racist segregationist for Tory’s proposed transit scheme that purportedly excluded some Toronto black communities.

But, as in the classic Watergate, the attempted cover up by Chow was far worse than the crime.

Instead of publicly castigating Kinsella for his impolitic suggestion, Chow lied publicly and stated that Kinsella was just “one of thousands of volunteers”.  Even though Kinsella’s company was on the Chow payroll as a media consultant. And Kinsella was a critical director of her quick response war room operations.

Chow’s public statement was such a bald-faced lie, that even the craven Pravda-like CBC/Star/Globe, which to date Chow and Kinsella have intimidated with Putinian efficiency, could not ignore or cover up Chow’s immense public blunder.

Her grand public lie once again cast a harsh light on Chow’s entire flawed public character.

A public persona, characterized by a pattern of morally questionable behavior that Chow has exhibited throughout her whole public life.

In 30 years of public life, Chow has never once admitted to making a mistake. She has never apologized or taken responsibility for her many errors. And they are legion. For example.

How did Chow in 1985 secure a below market subsidized Hazelburn co-op unit, within one year ( according to her own autobiography) when the wait list for such affordable housing was many years and over 30,000 needy families were ahead of her in line?

What about her untruthful and unbelievable public defense of her husband’s cure for a bad back, when he was caught naked in a police raid at an illegal massage parlor around the corner from their home @ThisAintTheElmwoodSpa?

Why did Chow as MP rack up one of the highest personal and office expenses than any Ontario federal MP including federal Tory Cabinet ministers?

Obviously, as in Hazelburn fiasco, Chow as a public figure, believes that she is entitled to her public entitlements.

And that as a leftist political activist, she is above moral reproach.

Well, the chickens have come home to roost for Olivia Chow.

Her campaign is in disarray as she falls further behind John Tory and Rob Ford.

Her moral failings,  her arrogance, her weak character, and her confused policy platform have finally done her in.

History will not be kind to Olivia Chow, widow of Jack Layton.

In running for mayor of Toronto, Chow believed that she would be Hillary to Jack’s Bill Clinton.

Instead her imploding political campaign has demonstrated that she is more like Yoko Ono who was nothing without her John.

Trudeau’s Support for Israel Undermined by Liberal Kang at Calgary Anti-Israel Hate Rally

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics

Recently, Marc Garneau, Liberal foreign affairs critic, shared the stage with Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird at a rally in Ottawa in support of the people of Israel.

Garneau, on behalf of his leader Trudeau and the Federal Liberal party, spoke sincerely and forcefully, on behalf of Israel’s right to defend itself.However, his efforts and by extension, Trudeau’s efforts to once again position his party as a staunch defender of Israel, were seriously hurt by the shameful participation of Liberal nominee Darshan Kang as featured speaker at a violent anti- Israel rally in Calgary.

Prior to the Ottawa rally for Israel,  Baird had criticized Trudeau and the Liberals for being silent for about six days in the face of Hamas launching hundreds of missiles into Israel with the intent of killing as many Israel civilians as possible.

When Israel finally decided to defend itself and try to stop these missiles with its own air assault, a former Liberal MP and current Liberal nominee for Mississauga Centre, Omar Alghabra, on his Facebook stated:

“Tragic! My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent civilians caught in blind and cruel bombing,” the post stated over top of a picture of a recently bombed neighbourhood in Gaza.

In effect, referring to Israel’s self-defensive measures as “blind and cruel”.

Trudeau’s silence for six days and Alghabra’s highly critical comments, called into question whether Trudeau and the Liberals, were just paying mere lip service to their oft-stated position that the Liberal Party stood behind Israel and supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorists.

Marc Garneau was invited by the organizers of the pro Israel rally in Ottawa and to his credit, he spoke passionately and eloquently, on behalf of Trudeau and the Liberal Party in defense of Israel.

Garneau read a statement from Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau echoing the Harper government’s solidarity with Israel and used his own background as a career military officer to explain the necessity of Israel’s operation in Gaza.

Garneau stated, “Let me ask the question,  “How can Israel stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel and threatening the lives of Israeli civilians?

“As an ex-military officer, I know the answer to that question. It’s not complicated. You have to destroy that launch capability and cut off that rocket supply. Otherwise you’re defenseless and the rockets will keep coming,” he said.

“For some to argue that you can’t attack Hamas terrorists because of the risk of killing innocent Palestinian civilians, is equivalent to saying, you’re not allowed to defend yourself,” he said, emphasizing that Hamas is a terrorist organization and its actions cannot be compared to a liberal, democratic state like Israel.

“If Canada were similarly threatened, there would be only one acceptable response: Canadians would expect their government to defend and protect them,” he said. “That is precisely what Israel is doing at the moment.”

Garneau’s comments were very well-received by the pro Israel crowd.

Unfortunately, two days later, a pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas rally was held in Calgary. This protest was organized by Justice for Palestinians and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, a University of Calgary  club (SPHR).

Featured speakers included SPHR president ala’s Hamdan, U of C professor Arthur Clarke and Liberal MLA for Calgary-Skyview and federal Liberal Party candidate Darshan Kang, who was personally approved by Justin Trudeau and won his nomination by acclamation.

About 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters attended. There was a counter-protest of Jewish and non-Jewish -Israel supporters across the street consisting of ten men and women, peacefully holding signs.

Then things got ugly.

About 100 of the pro Hamas protesters crossed the street and proceeded to beat up the peaceful and defenseless pro-Israel protesters, while shouting “Kill the Jews” and “Hitler was right”.

One of the Israeli supporters, Jake Burrell, wearing an Israeli flag around his neck, was dragged several feet by the mob. He was bruised and scratched.

Burrell’s cousin, Samantha Hamilton, was punched in the face and in the head by these cowardly pro Hamas protesters. And had her hair pulled. Her offence was she was trying to protect her younger brother from being swarmed and being attacked.

Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party must take responsibility and be held to account for Kang’s participation as featured speaker in this hateful, anti-Semitic, pro Hamas violent demonstration.

Trudeau and his inner circle have personally vetted and approved every Liberal candidate for the next federal election. Those who have crossed Trudeau, i.e. long time Liberal Christine Innes, have been prevented from even participating in a nomination fight.

Trudeau has laid down the law that all Federal candidates must support the Party’s pro-choice position, without exception. No Liberal candidate can publicly support a pro life position.

Clearly, when it comes to Israel and the Palestinians, Trudeau does not prevent his candidates from supporting publicly Hamas terrorists.

To date neither Trudeau or any senior Liberal official has rebuked Liberal nominee Darshan Kang from speaking at a hateful, anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli rally in favour of Hamas terrorism.

That speaks volumes.

Apparently,  under this Trudeau Liberal Party, it is kosher for some Liberals to defend Israel before Jewish pro-Israel supporters and for other Liberal Party members to publicly support Hamas terrorism before pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas supporters.

Canadian PM Stephen Harper Courageously Slams Hamas’ Terrorism

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics, Stephen Harper

Canadian Prime Minister Harper dominates all western political leaders, in terms of his courageous advocacy of Israel’s right to defend itself with all necessary and justifiable force.

In this area, no western leader can match Harper’s eloquence, tough-mindedness and principled and articulate vocal opposition to Hamas’ terrorism.
And that unfortunately includes the hapless and sadly” missing in action” US President Obama.In the wake of Israel’s bombing of Gazan missile installations, in reaction to hundreds of missiles being launched by Hamas at Israeli citizens, Harper recently publicly remarked that “self defense is not merely an Israeli right to be exercised in the abstract, but an Israeli obligation that must be defended by all Western nations.”

Harper further stated that “failure by the international community to condemn these reprehensible actions will encourage these terrorists to continue their appalling actions.’’

Harper, on behalf of Canada, called on its allies and partners to recognize that these terrorist acts [by Hamas] were unacceptable and that solidarity with Israel was the best way of stopping the conflict.

Contrast Harper’s full-throated support for Israel’s right to defend itself by attacking Hamas’ missile sites and Hamas’ military leaders, with Obama’s embarrassingly weak response.Obama paid mere lip service to Israel’s right to defend itself,  when he stated that, “Israel has a right to defend itself from rocket attacks that terrorize the Israeli people.

But then Obama called upon Prime Minister Netanyahu and demanded that Israel show restraint and press for a truce.

To which Harper called out the weak-kneed Obama and publicly rebuked him when Harper stated to the effect that ending the war does not require Israeli “restraint”.

Harper publicly scolded the feckless Obama, the UN and the “international community” for calling for Israeli restraint in the face of escalating rocket fire aimed at murdering and maiming Israeli civilians.

Harper called a spade and spade. He demanded that the world declare the sole responsibility for the violence belonged to the Hamas terrorists.

Harper argued that Hamas and Hamas alone was fully responsible for the current Israel-Hamas war.

Harper further asserted, “that Hamas was deliberately using human shields to further terror in the region.’’

Harper rejected outright calls coming from both the White House and the UN that Israel agree to a negotiated ceasefire with Hamas.

Harper insisted that not only should Israel not agree to a ceasefire, but Harper, said Israel should continue her offensive until the Iranian-backed terror group was “massively degraded,” if not eliminated entirely—once again arguing that “indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel are terrorist acts, for which there is no justification.”

Contrast those clear eyed and strong comments with the Obama Administration’s pathetic plea that both parties (Israel and Hamas) do all they can to protect civilians and mealy-mouthed observation that the US was heartbroken by the civilian death toll in Gaza.

In effect treating the Hamas action and Israel’s defensive military counter action as morally equivalent.

How disgraceful and shameful!

With Obama and the international community in mind, Canadian Foreign Minister Baird drove home the point and said what Obama should have said.

“There is no moral equivalency between a democratic state and a terrorist organization” and  that “Hamas militants hiding within its civilian population is abominable.”

How the mighty have fallen. The United States used to be front and centre in the Middle East—leading from the front.

Harper’s principled and courageous defense of Israel, in contrast to Obama’s characteristically disengaged feeble approach, has demonstrated that the US under Obama is no longer even leading from behind (which logically makes no sense). But is pathetically cowering in the corner, hoping all the troubles in the Mideast will magically blow over all by themselves.