Hot Takes – Mar 4, 2021
Every Thursday, I join NEWSTALK 1010's Moore in the Morning to take on the issues of the day with a panel of pundits. Here's my take on some of today's topics + others.
1. John Doe v. Alek Minassian. Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy has done an exemplary job throughout these proceedings in understanding and serving the public interest as well as the needs of justice. I sympathize fully with her desire to rob Minassian of his claim to fame. But, I think that’s what it was – a desire. And, I’m not sure it has a place in our impartial justice system. She, in fact, didn’t find Minassian guilty yesterday – or more correctly, rule that his defence was insufficient. She found “John Doe” guilty. John Doe was never on trial. I fear that this will be Minassian’s first and most hopeful argument for appeal. We should also not forget that scores of John (and Jane) Does pass through our morgues every year. And, there are real, living, innocent people with that name. They didn’t hurt anyone and shouldn’t be tarred with this evil.
This is Canada. Chances are at least fair Minassian will walk free amongst us some day. What if we forgot Karla Homolka’s name? She changed it a couple of times to escape her past. She couldn’t. Evil should never be forgotten.
Read the full text of Justice Molloy’s verdict here.
2. De Villa wants the Grey Zone. De Villa is incompetent and uncaring. She’s extinguishing a fire amongst the deck chairs on the Lido deck by sinking the ship and drowning the passengers. She’s working towards the wrong mission – but, she’s not alone. See why we all got the mission wrong.
De Villa and John Tory’s “abundance of caution” is killing and hurting people. They’re both like the Florida Sherriff’s deputy who let dozens of kids get shot inside Stoneman Douglas High School while he was being “cautious” – and safe, outside. Like the deputy, Tory and de Villa are safe from the harsh impact of their lockdown policies.
3. It’s the land. It’s always the land. When I’m homeless, I’d love to be able to afford a tent in Toronto. At this rate, I won’t even qualify for a mortgage on one. You’re never buying the house, you’re always buying the land. The house is just a gift with purchase. Just look at your house insurance policy, if you don’t believe me.
4. Air Canada will refund customer cash – says union. Why are we hearing this from the union? Who runs Air Canada? Actually, who does run Air Canada? Does anyone know the CEO’s name? I don’t. That says something. I’m not sure what. This is a no-brainer. When you take somebody’s money for a service, then you don’t provide the service, you give the money back. With interest, I hope, in this case.
5. Not quite the Ides of March. Having intentionally ignored the intelligence before Jan. 6, the pendulum will now swing the other way and U.S. security officials will escalate every burp and fart to Defcon 3 until the sensitivity wears off. But, these rumours will do wonders – I’m sure – for fundraising on every side of this divide. The QAnon folks will raise money on these rumours. So, will Antifa. Republicans and Democrats will make out like bandits. And, the Capitol police will likely have dozens of new armoured cars and automatic weapons for this year’s show and tell.
6. The 413 Highway opposition is all about politics. Nothing has changed there. Also not changed: as long as the GTA is a growing economic concern, there will be more traffic on our roads. Desks and bananas don’t get to the store on a bicycle, bus or streetcar. They move around the city on trucks. And, the idea there will be fewer cars in the GTA anytime within the next 30 years – barring another economic calamity – is a pipe dream.
7. Anne Frank lasted 761 days in an attic – why can’t I spend a year in lockdown? This is an egregious comparison. And, it didn’t end well for Anne Frank, either.