As we sink deeper into Chains We Can Believe In, it is rather surprising to still be hearing of an old and stale fad that must certainly be past its prime: the anti-Bush protest.

Perhaps our American friends have moved on, redirecting their angry focus from the Bush-era’s Iraq and New Orleans to the Obama era’s freefalling economy, rush to socialism, and renovation of American foreign policy from concrete to milquetoast.

Given the events this week in Toronto, it seems that Canadians haven’t moved on as quickly.

At an event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Dubya was joined by fellow former president Bill Clinton, for a discussion on domestic and global issues facing Canada and the United States. Buzz worthy enough, given the rarity of having the two men together for such an evening.

Outside, a reported number anywhere between 100 and 200 gathered to protest both men, but Bush was the obvious target by the majority of the unwashed. While the gathering consisted of the usual: union folk, habitual protesters, college kids, unemployed with nothing better to do, one attendee – I’m ashamed to admit - happened to come from my own province of Alberta.

What’s more, he is a professor of globalization studies at the University of Lethbridge. I remember the good old days when university Profs spent their time drinking latte’s, working on their book (‘my unfinished masterpiece'), and chasing co-eds who put out.

As a testament to higher education and a validation to all of you parents shelling out thousands of dollars in tuition and other university fees, I present Dr. Anthony Hall in his own words, as reported in the Toronto Star (remember, this is who we are entrusting the future of our children):

"Bush is the most notoriously accused war criminal on the planet. He should not be in this country. We have not seen this level of rampant criminality at the highest level. It makes Al Capone's Chicago look like child's play.”

Unbelievably, he added that by refusing to arrest Bush the Toronto police and the entire Canadian government was "…spitting on the rule of law."

Given the vitriol, one wonders if Dr. Hall doubles as professor of Melodramatics. His lack of knowledge regarding domestic and international law suggests the U of L doesn’t offer any related courses, to be sure.

Let’s be fair on this. Alleged educator Dr. Hall is a free citizen who has a right to voice his opinion and to protest whatever and whenever he likes. I value his right as much as I value my own.

But this goes into a different territory. After learning of Dr. Hall and reading the Star article, I decided to write to the president of the U of L and inform him that when the time came for my kids to choose a post-secondary place of study, his institution would not be considered as an option.

Just as I respect Dr. Hall’s right to protest and to have idiotic, incorrect opinions, I reserve the right to protect my kids the best I can, and to save them from being exposed to such biased and radical instruction.

Imagine being a conservative in the Good Doctor's class and being expected to write a political thesis. Given his extracurricular activities and his far-left views, how confident would you be in receiving a fair and honest assessment?

To his credit, University of Lethbridge president William Cade responded extremely quickly to my email. While he did the expected and defended his faculty member with the “he is entitled to his own views under the widely accepted concept of academic freedom” refrain, an invitation was extended for me and my daughters to visit the campus. Spin to be sure, but the effort was made.

Meanwhile, Anthony Hall will continue ‘teaching’ our kids. I can only assume he is objective enough not to try to influence his students with his own opinions.

And given his willingness to protest those he considers to be responsible for war crimes and other global atrocities, I trust I will see him at the next anti-terrorism rally, yes?

I’ll bring the latte.

There is an unmistakable upswing in the amount of water cooler buzz about Alberta’s Wildrose Alliance party these days.

The just-started leadership race to replace Paul Hinman has created endless list of potential candidates, with everyone from former Alberta director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Danielle Smith to former Reform party and federal Opposition leader Preston Manning, and everyone in between, being rumored to be interested in the job.

Combined with a public growing increasingly frustrated with a Progressive Conservative government they see as swinging too far to the left, not to mention the upcoming party AGM, there is a definite heartbeat.

Because of the freshness of the WAP, the candidates individual platforms will carry incredible weight in determining the direction of the party overall, more so than in other, more established (read: status quo) parties.

So, what is it a successful leadership hopeful, and by extension the New Party on the Block, offer Albertans? I don’t mean the usual, boring ‘we’ll stop Stelmach’s tax raid on your income’ stuff, or the ‘they are Liberal lite’ mantra, or even the scary possibility of being nailed by the unthinkable Provincial Sales Tax.

I would assume these items would be considered automatic for any party of any stripe looking to lead this province.

No, what the WAP needs is a hook, some sort of zing to grasp the public’s imagination. While I don’t expect any sane Wildrose Alliance wannabe leader to take any of these tongue-in-cheek suggestions seriously, I admit it would spice up the race and would be more fodder for the water cooler.



The Leader.

If a big name with instant credibility and huge recognition isn’t available (Hello, Preston!), then throw off all the critics by electing Danielle Smith. Not for her ideas or her position on important issues, but because she’s hot. The usual, droning attacks and labeling of the party as ‘social conservative’ and ‘dinosaur’ are disarmed by a hot conservative chick in front of the camera. (see: Rona Ambrose)





Get Ezra.

No matter the role. MLA, leader, volunteer, speaker, whatever. His crusade against the Stalinistic Human Rights Commissions has become an internationally-known fight for free speech. Get. Him.





Be Quebec.

Before those chest pains get really bad, let me explain. The WAP is NOT a ‘separatist’ party, and no where is there any evidence otherwise. Of course, neither is the Parti Quebecois. La Belle Province’s lucrative practice of sucking federal money and entrenched power out of federal governments of all stripes, either with the empty promise of a majority government (Stephen Harper) or the oldie-but-a-goody threat of separation (Trudeau, Chretien), is as much a part of Canadian culture as Tim Horton’s coffee.

Talk about a good gig – every once in a while you throw a referendum (French for ‘tantrum’) that you never intend on winning, thereby ensuring another decade or two of pandering and bigger cheques from Ottawa. Crafty, them Quebecers. Guaranteed media buzz for the candidate who floats the idea. Bonus: if our bluff is called, we’re out of the Equalization prison and free from the will of the mental giants of the Greater Toronto Area. Not often you win either way.



Go Gay.

Unknown to many, there are such mammals as ‘gay conservatives’. Talk about destroying a perception. A gay Wildrose MLA would force the other parties to resort to talking about actual policy and issues. Plus, the party colors could use a makeover. (There goes Bill Whatcott's vote.)


Be Proudly Pro-American

Calgary is full of American expatriates. The ties between our two nations run deep into Alberta. Dare to go against the usual Canucklehead tide and voice public support and friendship for our cousins to the South. Bonus points if you criticize Obama.


Target: Ottawa

Media, even of the local variety, will throw out the accusation of digging up a forgotten issue, but Albertans have long memories. To us, the only difference between federal Liberal and Conservative governments is the amount of bending over we have to do. Better the devil you know, as is currently the case with our tepid, no one else to vote for attitude towards the Harper government. Evoke Trudeau at every whistle stop. Even better, suggest that Alberta schools should be mandated to teach about the National Energy Program and its subsequent devastation of Alberta, both economically and socially.



Declare Ralph Klein Day

His popularity with Albertans is still in the stratosphere, given the number of us who now wish that he was still our Premier. Plus, it would be a coup against the P.C.s, whose obligatory reaction of the proposal – ‘how dare they? He was our guy! - would be considered hypocritical considering the size of the knife they planted in the back of ‘their guy’ when they made him walk the plank.


Oilsands Tours

Promote healthy competition by opening up the Satanic Oilsands to tourists. Let National Geographic subscribers from around the world see for themselves the evil that resides within our borders! Sign up for the Jack Layton helicopter sightseeing tour! Take a dip in the Official David Suzuki Tailing Pond!


And finally,

Two words: Fiscal responsibility.

No joke. Make sure the leader and the entire party are all on the same page on this one.

The following is a public statement I have been asked to release by the mother of 'Buffy', the then-16 year old girl involved in the Nina Courtepatte case. (5/15/2009).



In response to several media requests, and to the recent article in the Edmonton Journal (“Buffy's downward spiral began early” Edmonton Journal, May 13, 2009) I have decided to release this public statement with the purpose of addressing some issues.

To begin I wish to pass my most heartfelt and sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Nina Courtepatte. A loss of this magnitude cannot be measured. Our prayers are theirs.

Specifically with regards to the Journal article in question, I would like to suggest that there were more than a few errors and points of misinformation.

For example, the family members interviewed for the piece have had, until recently, very little or no contact with ‘Buffy’ since she was about 5 years old. One of them, her estranged father, had a restraining order placed against him at the time of the divorce when Buffy was a year old.

Information such as this should have been included.

Family members and close friends of the family should have been given in-depth interviews, as this would have provided accurate information regarding Buffy’s upbringing and her home life as a child.

As well, any medical and other health care professionals, including psychologists and other therapists providing reports and opinions should be required to have spent a lengthy amount of time in direct contact and observation of the individual they are assessing. They should refrain from basing their reports on the opinions of others and hearsay, if only to maintain credibility.

The article in question failed mention the family’s long battle with the problems Buffy has and the countless sessions the family arranged with therapists or the trips to the hospital to assist her.

As a parent, you never stop trying to help and protect your child. Even when you encounter setback after setback, even when you realize your child has taken to stealing from her own parents to feed her drug habit, even when those who you look to for a solution for your child tells you “there is nothing we can do for her until she gets in trouble with the law”, you hold on to hope and you continue to try. As a family, that’s what we did for Buffy.

Perhaps now those who failed to help our girl will finally be able to succeed.

When unthinkable tragedies such as this occur, we must remember that the impact goes beyond those who are directly involved. Its reach extends to all family members including siblings, and even to close family friends.

We now ask the media to respect our request for privacy as a family as we continue to put our energies into supporting our daughter.



* The opinions and information expressed in the above statement are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Leigh Patrick Sullivan or http://www.themoderateseparatist.com/.