Following opening remarks.

Later we will hear from Stewart Logan about the human cost and Don Rittaler on the assault on our freedom and our mystery speaker who I will introduce later, but first, while I have the floor there a few things I would like to say:

Today we heard of the second head of BC Ferries being fired by their political masters in the last few weeks. You know what this last bureaucrat was fired for? … Not providing correct reports on the problems with the new fast ferries. Well, this brings up the question.

Why has Doctor Stanwick not been fired by the CRD politicians for stringing them a line about compliance and how wonderfully the law is working.

Everyone in this room, except perhaps the media, knows fully well that there is no where near 80 percent compliance of this bylaw but more like 80 percent non-compliance. Where are the politicians?

We’ve got untrained so called enforcement officers masquerading as peace officers, intimidating the elderly, peeking in windows and following single mothers home … and we only hear from Stanwick through the media. Where are the politicians?

We’ve got bingo charities going broke, hours cut back and layoffs in the hospitality industry …. Thousands of dollars in sales, tax revenue, and spin-off dollars gone forever … while people sit at home … afraid to go to their favorite Pub, Coffee Shop or Restaurant, for fear of being swooped down upon by the ashtray police. Where is our great leader … the minister to save BC’s economy …Esquimalt’s own …Moe Sihota.

Today I heard CRD Director Frank Leonard quoted as being mad as hell that the Cowichan Regional District is going to be allowed to dump hundreds of tons of garbage in the Sannich land fill. I wonder if he will be as mad as hell when we dump our tourist dollars in the Cowichan Valley when potential tourists find about this ridiculous law. This is the guy who moved the motion to force the elderly to smoke outside at the Oak Bay Lodge instead of their WCB approved smoking room.

Here’s who voted against our seniors on that motion:

Michaluk - North Sannich,

Blackwell – Langford, West –Langford,

Bernard – Sooke,

Bergbusch – Colwood,

McMinn – Highlands, geez I guess there's a lot of public buildings in the highlands.

Amos –Sidney,

Campbell – outer gulf islands

and of course the political white knight himself … Frank Leonard.

Folks lets hold these mean spirited politicians accountable for their disgraceful behavior.

This week I have tried to reach CRD Board Chair Geoff Young several times to ask for a cooling off period, look for a common sense solution, my calls have not been returned. We don’t need to hear anymore from Dr. Stanwick or Dianne Stevenson …we can’t blame them for trying to protect their jobs … but we can blame the politicians who voted in this absurd law and since then, have had their heads in the sand. Let’s let them Know.

I would now like to introduce Stewart Logan. Please click here for Stewart Logan's heart-felt comments.