When Bad Guys Sue

July 12, 2010

You gotta shake your head when one of the worst criminals in Canadian history threatens to sue you.  I'm like, has the world turned upside down here?

We recently decided that criminals serving time in federal prison should not be eligible for seniors' benefits when they turn 65.  The stark reality that senior cons having have been collecting came into vivid focus when all of sudden we realized that serial child killer and pedophile Clifford Olsen was collecting his cheques the same way our parents and grandparents were.

We have now declared that since any convicts who are still in jail at age 65 are already being fully cared for by the taxpayer they should not also be eligible for seniors' payments.  Not until they have finished serving their time.

Under no circumstances are we considering changing our position. Olsen and crew will no longer be getting their cheques while they're doing time.

Now let me get to the rest of my weekly report to you.

Our Pulp and Paper Green Transformation fund continues to yield big benefits. 
I was in Prince George a few days ago to announce a joint venture with the Canfor mill.

The new technology will reduce the sulphur by over 60% and also will allow the mill to use its own liquid byproduct to power the operation without drawing energy from the grid.  Canada's forestry industry once again leads the way in environmental technologies.

The next day I was at UBC doing a funding announcement on two world class projects.  One deals with the reduction into the atmosphere of the effects of a full range of aerosols in a variety of industries.

The other project is dealing with something near and dear to the hearts of men everywhere- prostate technology. 

I actually got to operate (not on a living patient) with the latest of equipment which is used to go right into the gland itself (ouch) to perform biopsies. 

I hope I will never have to be on the receiving end (so to speak) of this marvelous new probe.  But I can tell you it will be a huge improvement and far less invasive than what is being used now. 

The whole process has been developed and tested by professors and their PhD students at UBC and a commercial tech firm in Richmond.  Once again, our federal research and development funds are helping British Columbians make the world a better place.

This week in the constituency, along with my usual appointments, I will be taking part in a couple of significant announcements.

ps. - On a non-government front, lots of talk, (mostly good) around town about the World Cup. 

Okay, I enjoy soccer. Played it, watch it and cheer for my grandkids playing it. Great game. But let's hope the FIFA folks drop their ridiculous rule of not using video replay on contested calls.

In the dying minutes of Sunday's game the Netherlands clearly should have had a corner kick but the ump said 'no'. And many announcers said Spain's goal was offside (looked like it on my TV).

Anyway, something refreshing about watching the CFL this week and seeing guys getting knocked down with pulverizing hits, then leaping right back up onto their feet without rolling around on the ground grabbing their ankles as if they had been stung by a bee.

Go Lions go.