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Canada’s reputation internationally has been damaged

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Canada’s reputation internationally has been damaged not by the many who protest before the parliament buildings, international bridges, and downtowns of Canada but by our inept and cowardly leaders.

We have seen Bill Blair, Doug Ford, Justin Trudeau, police chiefs of various Canadian cities throughout our nation pass the buck, point their fingers at others in an attempt to not face any accountability for their actions or should I say inaction during these crises. The Bridge in Windsor and Ottawa are smack in Ontario, yet Premier Ford says it’s a federal matter. Bill Blair places any decision-making upon these cities’ police chiefs and Mayors. What has happened is a municipal and provincial matter, yet they all point to The Prime Minister Trudeau who has said all along that the provinces needed to take charge of the situation.

Bill Blair was an opportunist from the get go as police chief in Toronto, and he is so as a federal minister. Doug Ford is fighting a provincial election, so the bad press will be damaging to his brand. Justin Trudeau has just won an election and is supported by Jagmeet Singhs NDP, so he could have stood up and become a leader of the fight for justice and law faction which most Canadians are a member, and yet most blame will fall upon the wee city mayors and their police chiefs. Local heads will fall, like the resignation of police chiefs in Ottawa and surely a mayor or two.

Our police are not the best in the free world, but they certainly try to do their jobs. The fault should fall upon the police who the politicians rely upon for advise. The truck convoy to Ottawa should never have been allowed into the downtown core or even off the main highways they were traveling on to Ottawa. If an accident happens on a highway do the police not close all arterial roads onto the highway, redirecting the traffic away from the accident? Ottawa’s Police knew the convoy was coming days before it arrived. Inaction has resulted in what we have today before our parliament buildings. We are told that politicians cannot influence the police, therefore the Mayor’s and Police Chiefs should bear the brunt of blame.
Our police are also far too worried about hurting others’ feelings or receiving the politicians displeasure.
How do you deal with a protest like what’s happening in Ottawa? Well, I know how to establish and grow a protest and how police will manage and make a protest disintegrate.

Everything is centered upon the following

1. Intelligence Gathering-Every police objective is reliant upon intelligence. Ottawa has proven they have a lousy intelligence department, otherwise, the truck would never have gotten to Ottawa in the first place. So they are there. What to do? Undercover officers must move among the protesters acting as though they sympathize and are a part of the movement.
2,. Intelligence locates protests leaders, trouble makers and which protesters have elderly and children with them. One cannot make a move upon you have a plan.
3. Undercover officers cordon off those mentioned above and locating the innocent must protect and relocate them away from assumed problem area. Friendly, wise persuasion often works. Should potential violence be feared officers will surround and protect the innocent.
4. Officers move towards and into the crowd. The intention is to slowly divide the mass of people away from the mass’s center. The appearance of uniformed officers often gives protesters a chance to re-evaluate their situation and leave. The police will try to find the core of hardliners who will not leave quietly.
Non violence is always the word, after all a fist usually gets a fist in return. Police are to be firm but friendly at all times. Persuasion always trumps unneeded force.
5. Leaders, innocents must be isolated and protected. The police must begin to dismantle any permanent structures asap to dissuade a return of protesters.
6. Should initial violence happen, it will be from a group of protesters and not the police. Remember the police are to be determined but friendly. Always nice and polite until action is needed. The protection of the population is always of prime concern.
7. If there is fear that some protesters may have hidden weapons the police will station snipers at key out of view area’s whose job is to view the crowd and relay intelligence. The use of drones will be very useful. These are used in Britain and the EU. Pretty certain the Ottawa Police don’t have any such advanced technology yet.

Police in Canada often responds to potential violence with violence, as they were trained to do. If all else fails, or you feel threatened fire away. This shows a total lack of real-world training and experience.

With the emergency law passed in Ottawa this week, I fear the police will stop the proposed reforms of their departments and return to their antiquated training. With power comes great responsibilities. I wish these officers and their managers would realize that. The police should be trained as peace officers, and not paramilitary organizations.

Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca

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Democrats devastated by Vice-President Kamala Harris’ defeat |

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Supporters of Vice-President Kamala Harris say they are devastated the Democratic party leader lost the United States presidential election. Harris was set to address Democrats at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C. after conceding the race in a phone call with Donald Trump. (Nov. 6, 2024)



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Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins Michigan’s open Senate seat, defeating the GOP’s Mike Rogers

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DETROIT (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin has won Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, giving Democrats a bittersweet victory in a swing state that also backed Republican President-elect Donald Trump in his successful bid to return to the White House.

Slotkin, a third-term representative, defeated former Republican congressman Mike Rogers. Democrats have held both Senate seats in Michigan for decades, but this year were left without retiring incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Michigan’s was among a handful of Senate races Democrats struggled to defend. They lost their U.S. Senate majority despite Slotkin’s narrow win.

The race was incredibly close. Just minutes before it was called for Slotkin, she addressed supporters in Detroit, acknowledging that many voters may have cast their ballots for her while also supporting Trump, who won the state’s electoral votes over Democrat Kamala Harris.

“It’s my responsibility to get things done for Michiganders. No matter who’s in office, just as I did in President Trump’s first term,” said Slotkin. “I’m a problem solver and I will work with anyone who is actually here to work.”

Slotkin’s win provides some solace for Democrats in the state, many of whom entered Election Day with high confidence following sweeping victories in the 2022 midterms. Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still controls the executive branch and Democrats held onto the Senate, but their state House majority was in peril.

And Republicans also captured a mid-Michigan seat vacated by Slotkin, considered one of the most competitive races in the country.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and third-term representative, launched her Senate campaign shortly after Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced her retirement in early 2023. With a largely uncontested primary, Slotkin built a significant fundraising advantage and poured it into advertising. Her high-profile supporters included former President Barack Obama and Stabenow, who helped her on the campaign trail.

On the Republican side, Rogers faced multiple challengers for the party’s nomination, including former Reps. Justin Amash and Peter Meijer, the latter of whom withdrew before the Aug. 6 primary. Rogers served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015 and chaired the House Intelligence Committee.

Trump won Michigan in 2016 by just over 10,000 votes, marking the first time a Republican presidential candidate had secured the state in nearly three decades. This time, he expanded that margin to about 80,000 votes.

Slotkin and other Michigan Democrats focused much of their campaigns on reproductive rights, arguing that Republican opponents would back a national abortion ban, although Rogers said he wouldn’t. How effectively the issue motivated voting in a state where reproductive rights were enshrined in the constitution by Michigan voters in 2022 remained to be seen on Election Day.

About 4 in 10 Michigan voters said the economy and jobs is the top issue facing the country, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 110,000 voters nationally, including about 3,700 voters in Michigan. About 2 in 10 Michigan voters said immigration is the most pressing issue, and roughly 1 in 10 named abortion.

Slotkin used her funding advantage to establish her narrative early, aiming to connect both with her base and disillusioned Republicans.

“For the Republicans who feel like their party has left them over the last few years, you will always have an open door in my office,” Slotkin said during their only debate.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela remembered for having ‘the heart of a lion’ at his funeral

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela was remembered for “having the heart of a lion” throughout his stellar pitching career with the Los Angeles Dodgers during a funeral highlighting his Catholic faith on Wednesday.

Archbishop José Gomez sprinkled holy water on Valenzuela’s casket and later waved incense over it. Nearby a portrait of a smiling Valenzuela rested against the altar.

“His death came too soon,” the Rev. James Anguiano said in his sermon.

The public Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles included fans wearing Dodgers gear, some in Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey. Many held up cell phones to record moments.

Valenzuela died on Oct. 22 at age 63, three days before the Dodgers began their eventual run to the franchise’s eighth World Series championship, beating the New York Yankees in five games last week. No cause of death was given.

“I really think Fernando hoped to witness the Dodgers win the World Series this year but you know he did witness the Dodgers as champions,” Anguiano said. “Fernando had a front-row seat, perfect from heaven.”

“I know like I’m standing here that Fernando is up there, he’s letting us know he’s doing well and he’s celebrating along with the Dodgers in their World Series championship,” said Mike Scioscia, who caught Valenzuela in many of his starts in 1981, including a five-hit shutout on Opening Day.

The Dodgers went on to win the World Series that year, in six games against the Yankees. The Mexican-born Valenzuela is the only player to earn the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.

Scioscia, at times speaking in Spanish, eulogized Valenzuela for having “the heart of a lion.”

“He was 20-years-old in 1981 when he was going through Fernandomania and he just kept perspective the whole way,” Scioscia said. “Fernando never got too big for his britches. He was always well-grounded, he knew that he had a talent and he wanted to go out there and do it every time. He always felt he was the best in the world but he never told anybody about it.”

Fernando Valenzuela Jr. gave a tearful eulogy of his papá in Spanish, pausing to wipe his face with a white cloth. Valenzuela’s wife, Linda, and other children Ricardo, Linda and Maria sat in the front row, along with his grandchildren.

“Fernando no longer has to look up nor does he have to look down,” Anguiano said, referring to Valenzuela’s skyward glance during his unusual delivery. “Fernando is alive and present in our hearts and in our lives.”

The nine-member Mariachi Sol de Mexico played and sang throughout the service. It concluded with eight pallbearers ushering his casket covered in white roses to a waiting hearse.

Former Dodgers Orel Hershiser, Ron Cey, Reggie Smith, Jerry Reuss, Manny Mota, Justin Turner, Rick Sutcliffe, Nomar Garciaparra and Jesse Orosco were among the mourners. They were joined by former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, current president and CEO Stan Kasten, team COO Bob Wolfe, team general counsel Sam Fernandez and actor Edward James Olmos.

Valenzuela’s colleagues on the team’s Spanish-language broadcasts, Jaime Jarrín who retired in 2022 and, José Mota, were there.

___

AP MLB:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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