SpotLight / Passion Portrait Project 2017
Jennifer Davies is one of Medicine Hat's great treasures. Tucked away in the drama department of Crescent Heights High School is one of the most dedicated teachers in the Province. Year after year she produces full blown Broadway plays. High school students pump out 2
stellar performances that are unbelievable, considering the actors are teenagers. Musicals in the best of conditions are challenging. Jen identifies students in grade seven, projecting their roles in grade twelve, patiently mentoring their growth. This year's "Bonnie and Clyde," was show stopping with three Provincial vocal winners rounding out the cast. The supporting cast was outstanding, and gave previews of upcoming leads. The most incredible part of what Jen accomplishes is not the sold out performances. It is the sense of family built among the cast. Some of the kids start as loners or outsiders in her class. Slowly they begin to meld
into more than teammates. Real and lasting friendships that last a lifetime emerge. Students as young as grade seven are friends with seniors. Each accepting the others talents and contribution to the show. Jen boasts several past students that have numerous Broadway, film, and full time back stage credits. Over the years I've watched her log more overtime helping her kids, and the production, than she is paid for her required work hours. Jennifer Davies is the most dedicated teaching professional I've had the privilege of knowing. She is one person who actually and consistently, "makes a difference."
THIS ISSUES
CONTENTS 16 FINANCE
7 5
Thing a-Changing
BMO Consultant - Dan Hein
The Fashion Files Gainsboro Spotlight Psy. D.,R. Psych. Biography Clinical Psychologist
Columnist Dr. Wendy Froberg
15 EDITORIAL
Scott Cowan
The New Leftist Agenda
12 Politics Conservative. The Next Generation Columnist Brent Dunstan 13 Law Can’t I Just Save Some money and Buy the Divorce Kit $89.99
Columnist Scott Stenbeck
21 Golf Golf Simplified Getting into the Zone
Columnist Donald Crawley
EDITOR
SCOTT COWAN (403) 504-7092
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377 - 4 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0K4
JOAN BATEMAN joan@gainsboro.ca GRAPHICS DIRECTOR
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Renner starred as a death row inmate in the dark comedy Love Comes to the Executioner (2006). In 2007, Renner played a courageous soldier in the thriller 28 Weeks Later. He soon played another type of military officer in The Hurt Locker, which explored the travails of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team working in Iraq. "The role was so rich and complex, and the story of EOD made it so new and fresh. I trained with EOD for over a year to accurately portray these guys, these heroes," Renner told USA Today.
Calgary's Comic and Entertainment Expo afforded Spotlight the opportunity to engage with super star Jeremy Renner. He fielded questions from the fans crowding into the packed "Corral" auditorium. He was particularly kind to smaller children who stood in long lines to speak with him. Over 150,000 fans bought tickets to the Expo this year. Renner was born on January 7, 1971, in Modesto, California. He discovered acting while attending Modesto Junior College. Eventually moving to Los Angeles, Renner first garnered strong reviews for his role in the play Search and Destroy, which he also co-directed. Making his film debut in 1995, Renner starred in the comedy National Lampoon's Senior Trip. He then landed a few television movies, such as 1996's A Friend's Betrayal and 1997's A Nightmare Come True. After numerous guest spots, Renner won a recurring role on Angel, playing a vampire in 1999. He also began working with a friend on buying and rebuilding houses in the Los Angeles area around this time to supplement his income. In 2002, Renner experienced his first major career breakthrough with the independent drama Dahmer. His riveting portrayal of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer earned accolades and recognition. Continuing to give solid performances, Renner worked on a variety of projects, from the big budget action flick S.W.A.T (2003) with Colin Farrell to the sexual harassment drama North Country (2005) with Charlize Theron. He also starred in several independent films, such as Neo Ned (2005), in which he played a white supremacist living in a mental institution. Taking on somewhat lighter fare,
SpotLight is Proud to Introduce Dr. Wendy Froberg as our New Columnist
Renner's efforts paid off handsomely, winning him accolades for his compelling depiction of Staff Sergeant William James, an expert on defusing bombs who seemed to be addicted to the adrenaline rush associated with his work. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker earned numerous award nominations, including an Academy Award nod for Renner. After the success of The Hurt Locker, Renner quickly became an in-demand actor in Hollywood. He appeared in the crime drama The Town (2010) with Jon Hamm, Ben Affleck and Blake Lively. Renner moved on to the popular action franchise Mission: Impossible with a role in Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. Assuming the identity of the comic book character Hawkeye, he played this part in both 2011's Thor and in 2012's The Avengers. Trying to fill Matt Damon's shoes in Bourne thriller series, Renner played the lead in the action thriller The Bourne Legacy (2012). He continued to take on a variety of projects, including a supporting part in the critically acclaimed crime drama American Hustle (2013) and a starring role in Kill the Messenger (2014). In 2015, Renner once again played Hawkeye in Avengers: Age of Ultron Off-screen, Renner is known for keeping his personal life under wraps. He did, however, reveal in September 2014 that he and his girlfriend Sonni Pacheco had secretly married. In December of that same year, it was reported that Sonni filed for divorce. The couple's daughter, Ava, was born in March 2013. He now says he will accept no roll that infringes on his "Ava time."
Dr. Wendy Froberg Psy. D.,R.Psych. Clinical Psychologist Columnist frobergw@shaw.ca
Biography Wendy Froberg, Psy.D. has enjoyed a lengthy career as a registered psychologist in Alberta in various clinical settings (including private practice, hospitals, schools, child protection and psychiatric). She is a former assistant professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Calgary where she taught play therapy, a local/national/international presenter and frequent media commentator specializing in the treatment of children and families. Since 2009, Wendy has been pursuing a second career as an actor and playwright. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Archetype Productions, whose mandate is to bring to the stage works that explore profound and universal human themes of struggle, relationship, loss, healing and transformation. Wendy has recently returned to private practice, specializing in the treatment of mid-life adults and women’s issues.
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THE CARLYLE, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL ANNOUNCES WINTER/ SPRING 2017 SUNDAY NIGHT RESIDENCIES AT BEMELMANS BAR Follow The Carlyle Hotel on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About Bemelmans Bar A favorite neighborhood bar of Upper East Siders and visitors alike. Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle is a special hideaway where artist and author Ludwig Bemelmans’ whimsical drawings come to life. Best remembered for his beloved Madeline series of classic children’s books, Bemelmans was commissioned in 1947 to paint the large-scale murals to depict all four seasons in famed Central Park. Featuring the only surviving Bemelmans’ commission open to the public, the bar combines wit and coziness in unique New York style.
BLAKE ZIDELL & ASSOCIATES The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, is pleased to welcome back Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch to Bemelmans Bar for Sunday night residencies throughout the winter/spring 2017 season. Featuring top artists from the worlds of jazz, cabaret and Broadway alongside special unannounced guests. Sunday nights at Bemelmans Bar have become a favorite spot for a wide range of performing musicians across the city. Additionally, the classic watering hole has drawn crowds consisting of socialites, politicians, movie stars, and moguls for more than five decades.
and Stritch—who are best friends—gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular, recurring open mic event Cast Party. Stephen Holden, in The New York Times, called a Cast Party event in the Lincoln Center American Songbook series “a welcoming oasis of traditional show business bonhomie”—a description that perfectly captures the spirit of the duo’s Bemelmans residency. The pair will be at Bemelmans on March 5, March 12, March 19, April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23 and April 30.
Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch’s upcoming performances will build upon their recent run of shows in the intimate, storied New York City lounge. Favorites not only of music fans and critics, but also of fellow artists. The duo recently added dozens of songs made famous by Frank Sinatra to their repertoire. Thanks to their current national tour of The Sinatra Century. Their shows provide a place where some of the city’s foremost entertainers go to commune with their own—and sometimes sit-in for a song or two—on their nights off. To be sure, Caruso and Stritch are exceptional musicians in their own right. In a recent New York Observer review, Rex Reed described their Bemelmans show as “a nimble, nonstop, musical show-business bonanza. With as much rhythm and class as the feet of Fred Astaire.”
Bemelmans Bar is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street @ Madison Avenue.) Bar seating is $15 per person, and table seating is $25 per person. Reservations not accepted; tables available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For additional information, visit www.thecarlyle.com.
But part of the fun is experiencing Caruso and Stritch’s impromptu collaborations with the showbiz heavy-hitters who turn up; recent guest appearances at Bemelmans have included Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein, Bono, Marilyn Maye, Tony Danza, Jane Monheit and Linda Lavin. In addition to performing extensively on their own, Caruso
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Restored in 2002 by designer Thierry Despont, the bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Open year round with live music every evening, regular performers include favorites such as Chris Gillespie, Earl Rose, Loston Harris, David Budway, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch. Named in honor of the legendary artist, Bemelmans is a classic New York watering hole that has drawn socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls for more than five decades. For more information, please contact Blake Zidell, Ron Gaskill or Matt Gross at Blake Zidell & Associates, 718.643.9052, blake@ blakezidell.com, ron@blakezidell.com or matt@blakezidell.com.
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Conservative: The Next Generation
an end goal in mind. Self evaluation isn't easy. An honest assessment of one's strengths and weaknesses is always fraught with the perils of objectivity lost. Sacred cows are in the crosshairs, and the fall-back position is ensuring that it isn't your favourite cow that gets shot. However, the success of the process is more often than not rooted in the ability to allow your cow to fall for the sake of the overall health of the herd, just as a doctor would advocate removing a limb to save the body; the greater good must be the order of the day.
Brent Dunstan Columnist
Reaffirming conservative values and ideals is simultaneously easy and challenging for those tasked with building consensus. Collecting them is the easy part; winnowing them down to a set that has broad appeal is the challenge. The hindrance is the proclivity that conservatives have of splintering into camps; labelling each other as "too
conservative" and "not conservative enough". While it's hard to imagine the debate involved in reinvigorating conservatism in Canada devolving into the sort of puerile behaviour we have seen in the U.S., there remains the danger of clouding matters with personality over process. Along with this is another dangerous tendency; succumbing to the temptation to swing wildly to one extreme end of the conservative gamut or the other. On the one hand, there is the allure of the political centre, with the belief that such a move will attract increased numbers of moderate voters. On the other hand, there is the enticement of the far right; embracing the social and economic tenets that will engage and motivate an unwavering base. Paradoxically, it cannot be either/or; it must be both/ and. If anything can be learned from the last few elections, it is that there are not enough votes to elect governments confined to only one narrow portion of the larger political Continued On Page18
It seems that both provincially in Alberta, and federally in Ottawa, conservatives find themselves at a crossroad. Decisions are being made that will, for the foreseeable future, define conservatism, both for those that are directly involved in the parties who consider themselves small "c" conservative, and to the public at large. As the Federal Conservatives will have a new leader, and Alberta's two right-of-center parties explore unification, or perhaps more accurately reunification, much will be determined as to what it is to be a "conservative". Conservatives are at a place not seen in more than a generation - wandering in the wilderness of being in opposition in both Edmonton and Ottawa concurrently. The wilderness experience is a common literary motif, one that typically ends with the participant learning hard yet valuable lessons, emerging renewed, reinvigorated, and better for the experience. It's an exercise much like youth backpacking around Europe to "find themselves". The conservative political movement is in the throes of fleshing out it's identity going forward. To accomplish this, the same identity formula that our intrepid backpackers follow applies: reaffirm, reinvent, and acquire anew. A balance must be struck, flexibility must be maintained, and a sense of purpose is critically important to be concentrated upon;
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Can’t I Just Save Some Money and Buy the Divorce Kit for $89.99
Scott Stenbeck
1(866)783 6232 Law Columnist
It’s not just the Divorce Kit, there are Will Kits, Estate Kits, do-it-yourself Partnership Agreements, and so forth. And before anyone rushes to sue me, when I say “Divorce Kit”, I don’t know if one of the particular products out there is named exactly that, I just picked a descriptor for the sake of this article. But in any event, when I used to do wills, sometimes people would ask me “Why pay a lawyer to do a will, there is an online kit for $49.99”. My answer to that was always the same. Lawyers don’t generally charge what they actually should for a will, most do it as a loss-leader and it is a very small amount of any firm’s revenue. I always told that person to go ahead and use the online kit, but to put my business card with the will. I would tell them that I’m fine missing out on the $300 to do the will, but I would be happy to get the $30,000 worth of business down the road for the estate litigation that would ensue. Divorces are no different. In the last handful of years I have had numerous cases where people have spent thousands and thousands on legal fees because they tried to do their own divorce, or their own divorce agreement or settlement. Sometimes people have found that the custody and access arrangement that they thought they agreed to wasn’t really what they thought. Other times they get to learn, after they have paid money or transferred property to their ex-spouse relying on an agreement, that they don’t have an enforceable agreement at all. A few months ago I heard a judge say to someone in Court that was in that position that “If you try to take out your own appendix,
don’t be sad when you get blood all over the carpet.” The Courts are having less and less sympathy as time goes on for do-it-yourselfers. I don’t find that particularly unfair. If I don’t hire a contractor and build my own house, I still have to meet the building codes. It’s no excuse when I have to tear it down and start over that I tried my best and I didn’t know. As an absurd example, I once asked a dentist buddy of mine if, in theory, I could pull my own tooth if I needed to. I saw a dentist do it once on Utube. He told me that yes, I probably could. The freezing, xylocaine, could be purchased from a vet. The needles could be purchased from a pharmacy. And I could mail order the extraction pliers just like anyone else. And 90% of the time, I would probably fine. But the other 10%, if things didn’t go exactly as expected, or there were any surprises, like an infection or bleeding that didn’t stop, I would probably die. All those x-rays and precautions that a dentist takes before an extraction, all that experience, all that training on what-ifs, all that follow-up, that’s what prevents those catastrophic consequences when things don’t go as planned. Law is kind of the same. A good chunk of the situations I see are probably pretty straightforward. But it is not rare at all when I see a potential problem, I bring it to a client’s attention, and the client is completely surprised that an issue exists that could have cost them their relationship with their children, their property or their financial security, and they had no idea. People think that what lawyers charge for is stationary. Someone will look at all the stuff I have copied to them or drafted for them, compare it with their bill, and figure “His bill is $X, all the paper is about half an inch thick, that seems fair.” Nothing could be further from the truth. It would be the same thing as with my construction example above. I can go buy the lumber and nails from Home Depot for a fraction of what a contractor is going to charge me to build my house. I’m not paying for the lumber, I’m paying for his expertise. At the end of the day, what a lawyer charges for is advice. I’m going to let you in on a secret. The separation/divorce agreement that I draft for clients that costs about $2,500…it’s saved in about ten versions on my computer system. About 70% of the clauses in it are standard and will not change from situation to situation. I take an agreement that fits the situation, i.e. a couple with children and average property such as a house, mortgage, two cars and some RRSPs, and I modify the
provisions in it to fit the circumstances, just the same way the contractor takes the lumber you could buy yourself for a fraction of what he charges you and does different things with it in each construction situation. I certainly don’t re-write the whole 30 pages every time as an original document any more than the contractor re-invents square angles and roof trusses with every house he builds. No one is actually paying for the four copies of a 30 page document, it’s the legal knowledge that goes into what to put in it and how to modify it. If someone wanted to download and print off the framework documents on my computer system for a separation agreement, those documents themselves are worth about the same as the Divorce Kit that you can download or buy at an office supply store. What makes the difference is the input of the experienced divorce/family lawyer into the document, and the advice and recommendations behind it. My precedent documents, the same as the Divorce Kit, don’t know to tell someone that the agreement is completely unenforceable if there has not been full financial disclosure. They can’t figure out on their own if it makes more tax sense to characterise support as child support or spousal. They don’t know the difference between personal income and income of a closely held corporation, or grossing up for dividends. And they also can’t give an outside, detached professional opinion to someone when an agreement they are presented with is unfair and they shouldn’t sign. When someone asks me what a basic desk divorce costs, I tell them about $2,500, and about that much again if they need a separation/divorce agreement, provided there are not hugely complicated assets and it doesn’t take days of negotiation. The last five day property and custody trial that I ran because someone tried to do their own pre marriage contract cost just under $40,000, and I am by no means the most expensive lawyer in Southern Alberta. When someone asks me about the $89.99 Divorce Kit, I just tell them to do the math. There is a reason it takes 7 years to get the schooling to be a lawyer, and it takes most of us another seven or eight of practice to get to be any good at it. Thinking that is going to be encapsulated in a standard form fill-in the blank product for about a hundred bucks is a dangerous fantasy.
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The New Leftist Agenda
Scott Cowan Editorial
403-528-2191
in comparison to President Obama is so stark as to defy explanation. With absolutely no evidence, they toss out words of impeachment and guilt, and do so without shame. For the record, this publication predicted the Trump win when everyone else considered him a fringe candidate. Donald Trump graced our cover months before he won the presidency. I am now predicting his resignation prior to impeachment. Vice President Pence will also step down. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan will serve the remainder of Trump's term. Trump was not yet sworn in when the radial left began throwing out an impeachment message. These days the model we follow is that if a conservative wins an election, it is to be fought until over turned by the tolerant left. Here is a list courtesy of Fox News depicting the numerous and in some cases treasonous actions not sufficient in the minds of the
left to warrant a special prosecutor...“Obama administration scandals and crimes that required ZERO special counsels BENGHAZI – 4 Americans killed, countless others affected. IRS SCANDAL – The IRS intentionally targeting conservative organizations. FAST & FURIOUS – The illegal sale of guns to drug dealers, resulting in the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. HILLARY’S EMAILS – The former Secretary of State’s mishandling of classified information. BOWE BERGDAHL – Released for five Taliban prisoners under suspicious circumstances. IRANIAN PRISONER SWAP for $400 million cash payment. HILLARY PAY TO PLAY during her tenure at the State Department VETERANS ADMINISTRATION – Long wait times and poor conditions that resulted Continued on Page 20
We are seeing the beginning of the liberal left criminalizing anyone holding conservative ideology. Think about it, if you deny the popular version of climate change, David Zuzuki says you should be jailed. If you point out any negative statistics concerning Muslim immigration you are labeled a hateful bigot, and islamaphobic. Both of which are now crimes in Canada. If one were to mention that Sharia Law involves honor killings, female genital mutilation, ownership of women, beating of women, a pervasive Muslim rape culture of any non-Muslim women, and the execution of gays, you can be arrested. Look what is happening to President Trump. The media ignores his accomplishments, of which there are many. Rather they manufacture and exacerbate any perceived flaw or offence. The media spends all their time trying to find anything that could be construed criminal. Recent statistics on the major news outlets show a 98% negative reporting about the President. Such is the ongoing controversy over what so called intelligence that might have been shared during a meeting with Russian officials at a the White House. The "intelligence" that was shared, centered around the fact ISIS has developed a bomb that fits inside a lap top computer or IPad. Hardly top secret, considering several major news outlets have reported the story. The least of which being the New York Times. The double standard applied against Trump
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Things, They’re a-Changing Retirement Income programs provided by the Government of Canada Government retirement income programs are changing – we need to adjust our retirement plans accordingly. The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefit is determined by how much you contributed, and for how long. In recent years the federal Government added the Child-Rearing Provision to CPP. This can increase benefits for parents who stopped working or worked fewer hours for less pay, while raising children born after December 31, 1958. This provision covers the period until the child reached 7 years of age. Many qualifying Canadians have not yet received this increase and need to request this adjustment - Contact Service Canada for details. We have seen cases where this resulted in both a modest rise in monthly benefit, as well as a back-pay settlement. If this applies to someone you know, see to it that they apply. Old Age Security (OAS) provides a benefit set according to how long you lived in Canada after age 18. Because this program is not funded by our contributions, it is subject to“clawback” reductions for higher-income retirees. Benefits have traditionally begun at age 65, but recent changes will push this to as late as age 67, for Canadians currently under age 55. For those that have lived outside the country, you may have eligibility for Canada’s OAS & CPP, as well as entitlements from the country
you lived in – this could be well worth the investigative effort. Many of us can benefit greatly from the service of a qualified, experienced Advisor. It is worth the effort to build an outline of what all your income streams will do for you, throughout your retirement. This may show that you are on the right track and on schedule, or even ahead. It may also bring to light the need to re-double your efforts to plan, save and prepare for the years that ought to be “Golden”. For most of us, personal savings and investments form a central part of well-laid retirement income plans. Spend time to create and maintain a snapshot of your assets to be sure of how they can help fund your future. With proper planning, informed allocation and analysis, you can determine whether you should maximize Tax Free Savings Accounts, your RRSP, or non-registered investment accounts. The seasons of retirement have been called “Go-Go Years”, “Slow-Go Years” and finally “No-Go Years”. Most of us do more, travel more and therefore spend more in the early years. Then we settle into a slower routine, spending more time around home and with family. Later on we spend time thinking about our legacy and sometimes confront burdensome health and care-giving issues. All stages of retirement deserve proper attention, planning and regular review.
For more information, visit: www.bmo.com/nesbittburns
Dan Hein, BRE
Associate Investment Advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Medicine Hat, AB
Phone: 403-528-6771 Email: Dan.Hein@nbpcd.com
The comments included in this article are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax applicability or trust and estate law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances. ® “BMO (M-bar Roundel symbol)” and “Making Money Make Sense” are registered trade-marks of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Opinions are those of the author and may not reflect those of BMO Nesbitt Burns. The information and opinions contained herein have been compiled from sources believed reliable but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness.
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Conservative: The Next Generation Continued From Page 12
spectrum alone. The realization that is imperative for conservatives to come to is that they can accomplish nothing of real significance on the opposition benches. If they are not electable, what's the point? This is particularly relevant as conservatives in Alberta chart their course in the unfamiliar waters of not being in government for the first time in more than a generation. While it's easy to dismiss the results of the last election as an aberration, it is more difficult to digest a less palatable conclusion. The Province, widely viewed as a bastion of conservatism, when presented with the situation of a PC government that had fallen out of favour, (ostensibly because they had lost their conservative identity), did not opt for the more "conservative� alternative. The further right Wildrose Party did not attract the disillusioned voter, at least not in sufficient numbers to prevent what many thought was unimaginable - an NDP government. It remains to be seen if the two right of centre parties can yield to one another for a greater common cause, and provide the Alberta voter with a single conservative alternative to the current Government. While not an absolute certainty, it's difficult to foresee a scenario where this wouldn't secure a victory in 2019. It would, however require some of the second aspect of the identity formula, reinvention. The misconception of reinvention is that it requires massive wholesale change. Reinvention is taking something and adjusting it, not altering to the point of un-recognizable. This is absolutely true in the case of the conservative political movement. What is necessary is more makeover than radical transformation. The substance of conservative thought and policy still resonates with a large portion of Canadians. The problematic issue is one of style and presentation, not the content itself. Lee Atwater, advisor to U.S. Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. is credited with coining the phrase, "Perception is Reality." If anything can be learned from the last few years in the realm of politics, it's this; in spite of a track record of predominantly sound governance, conservative governments made it relatively easy for their opponents to create a negative perception of them. If Atwater is indeed correct, a future that includes small "c" conservative governments means altering the voter's perception of conservatives. The reinvention necessary is one of repackaging and re-branding. If "sunny ways" without
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substance can sell, imagine what could be accomplished by truly substantive policies presented by conservatives in a more positive tone, absent of the negative perceptions. The most uncomfortable element of the "backpacking formula" for many conservatives may well be the acquisition of new ideas, policies, and platforms. Conservatives are, by nature preservationists; predisposed to maintenance as opposed to renovation. Again, recent history informs us that electoral success is attainable by presenting one's self as a political entity that is both new and renewed. It is, quite bluntly, an attractive package. What then should modern conservatism look like? Perhaps the best way to begin to answer such a question, is to delineate some things it should not be. First of all, it cannot be a disintegrated entity. Just as the political left has benefited from the same wisdom Abraham Lincoln took from the Biblical idiom that "a house divided against itself cannot stand", conservatives must come to the understanding that the whole is greater than
the sum of its parts. The current Liberal Federal Government owes it's existence to a large extent to left leaning voters making the strategic choice to channel votes in one direction, and not divide their support. Alberta's current NDP Provincial Government gained office by benefiting from a twofold advantage; a virtually nonexistent left wing alternative, and the splitting of centre-right support. Both cases prove Lincoln and the Book of Mark correct. Secondly, conservatives cannot be, as the Post's Michael Den Tandt so aptly put it, "the party of angry old men." In spite of what we witnessed in the U.S., it would be folly for Canadian conservatives to see such a fractious approach as a recipe for success. It would fail spectacularly. As enigmatic as the Canadian identity may be, what is inevitably expressed when the discussion arises is, "one thing is true - Canadians are not Americans." As evidenced by the most recent Federal and Provincial elections, the "protest vote" in Canada, unlike America, doesn't fall to the right, but to the left. This should be particularly instructive in Alberta, given that Continued On Page 22
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The New Leftist Agenda Continued From Page 15
in the deaths of countless veterans. LORETTA LYNCH and her tarmac meeting with Bill Clinton. UNMASKING of private American citizens for political purposes. SOLYNDRA- The funneling of funds by Obama administration to private companies. SECRET SERVICE prostitution scandals during presidential overseas trips. HURRICANE SANDY relief funds that never found their way to New York and New Jersey. OBAMACARE WEBSITE that cost over $600 million and didn’t work. Isn’t the double-standard just flat out DISGUSTING? Here at home, Prime Minister Trudeau has far more power to change the Canadian culture. He is wasting no time. He has be quoted as saying that, "Christianity is the worst part of Canadian culture." He is doing everything possible to change Canada forever. True, he has not revived the hated national energy policy. He has done worse, with his useless tax grab of carbon taxing. Children cannot pray to Jesus in Canadian schools, but you can to Allah. In fact Christian children are being forced to accept all things Muslim in an effort to be tolerant and inclusive. Justin has said we have no tradition and values save that which is found in the diversity of our multi-cultural emphasis. He said he wanted to close down the oil sands...until it was too much of a hot potato. Then he backtracked, saying he was misquoted and misunderstood. All his MP's must vote pro-choice regardless of their personal beliefs. In fact you cannot run as a liberal MP unless you sign a document declaring you are in fact in favor of a woman's right to choose. So according to the left you are misogynist and narrow minded if you take a stand against abortion. If you have issues with gay rights you are homophobic, and a hate monger. Don't even try and say you don't approve of gay or trans clubs in schools. Both positions are punishable by law.
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If you disagree with the mantra of the 1% paying their fair share of taxation it means you are naive and are only for the rich. No left politician will ever answer the question, so what percentage amount is my fair share? In Alberta as we have seen in every other Province, when the left gains power they punish the corporations and inflate civil service jobs. My friend Jason Kenny, now he has prevailed in winning the New Conservative Party leadership; thinks he is a shoe in as Premier. I would not jump to that conclusion. The right has lost thousands of conservative voters simply because they were pushed out of the Province via job loss. All the left will vote liberal next time knowing the NDP is finished but combining liberal, NDP, and disenfranchised voters, may yield another Alberta surprise. Lots of angry Conservative and Wildrose voters will be staying home. Many are staunchly against dissolving the parties. He may not become leader of a new party. Leftist politicians are tilting the scales toward victory. Justin is flirting with literal arrest of conservatives. Immigrants will be forgiven for rape and murder, and you will be jailed for self defense. Liberals will sanitize their responses as tolerance and paint you with "hate crimes." Conservatives will be marginalized, and devalued as people. Then they are free to do to us in any way they see fit. Be it re-education camps or removal of our children by the state. Liberals will not allow you to infect your kids with your outdated values. Give leftists a bit more rope, and home schooling will disappear. It will unveil as... you can continue to home school if you have an education degree. Then progress to outright banning the practice citing curriculum problems. Look for a new and improved gun registry. The first thing such "progressive" politicians go after is the ability of the citizen to defend themselves, or rise against their betters. All the while the media is totally complicit. Celebs used to constantly rail against McCarthyism, now Hollywood is nothing but left wing dictators. The conservatives are black balled and get no work. The latest case being the “Last Man Standing." Tim
Allen spoke out, and his high rating show was abruptly cancelled. The tolerant left is now so hateful in practice, that they are outwardly discriminatory of all things with which they disagree. Watch any episode of the "View." These women are outright lying about Trump and do so with impunity. I am not a fan of everything Trump has done or said... but he is the first politician to be demonized for keeping his campaign promises. Prime Minister Trudeau has spent billions of tax payer dollars helping predominantly immigrants of a single ethnic origin, and to the exclusion of most others. Immigration used to be based on the "best and the brightest." Now it has digressed into the "illiterate and intolerant." People who (85%) statistically stay on social assistance for life. All the while these new Canadians are demanding greater freebies. But rest assured they will vote Liberal, and show up several times to do so each election. Because it is now biased to require proof of residency and citizenship to receive a ballot. It no longer matters if your face is hidden, you can't ask to have anyone remove a covering to certify their qualification to vote. The Prime Minister is directing tax dollars to build their places of worship. If someone enters your home to steal you are not allowed to defend yourself. God forbid your wife or daughter was being raped, and you use deadly force. You'll be in jail. The left is no longer hiding, they are transforming our country before our eyes. They are openly indoctrinating our children. They are passing laws that soon will make it impossible to advocate conservative values. They disparage all things free enterprise. Business owners are taxed out of business, and disgraced for successful operations. Just pay that $15.00 minimum wage regardless of common sense saying it can't be done. Freedom is slipping away rather quickly. It is up to you to do something about it, or in the end are you just to Canadian? Comments:
scott-cowan@live.com
Golf Simplified getting into the Scoring Zone Do you ‘see’ a low shot landing on the fringe of the green releasing, and rolling on a low trajectory, up the green and into the hole? You should. Where should the ball land? Be specific, “that brown spot on the fringe”. What club would give you the trajectory and roll you envision? Maybe it’s a 9 iron? No it may roll too far, better to select a bit more loft, pitching wedge? After you ‘see’ this shot and select your club, i it is time to ‘feel’ the shot. Watch the pro’s they do exactly as I’m describing. Looking at the landing spot, with selected club in hand, make practice swings that resemble the length and pace of the swing needed to drop the ball exactly on your spot. SEE the shot first, FEEL the swing.
Donald Crawley Golf Columnist TOP 100 Teacher Director of Instruction Boulders Golf Academy 480 488 9028 Donald.crawley@theboulders.com www.theboulders.com www.golfsimplified.com
To be a good golfer you need a short game, a really good one. Look through the history of golf’s greats and they all had a deft touch on and around the green. You may never (most likely) be able to overpower a golf course with booming drives like Hogan, Nicklaus, Woods, now Bubba, Jason, and Rory. I just love that these modern icons are known by first names. Did Michael Jordan start that? Maybe some Canadian hockey player? Apologies, I digress. Anyway, the top players have great short games. Although Bubba Watson hits the ball prodigious distances, he is a great putter. Some time last year he had the longest spell of not three putting. Jordan Spieth number one in the world is a brilliant pressure putter. Sometimes looking at the hole not the ball. Amazing! The start of developing a good short game begins with the visualization of the shot. We call that imagery. Seeing the picture of the shot in your mind, and playing a little video in your head, ahead of execution is crucial. Visualize the height, trajectory, landing spot and roll of the ball, before you even think of club selection. Imagine you are twenty yards off the green. The pin is cut in the middle of a relatively flat green, with no obvious obstacles in the way.
Note; don’t take forever doing this slowing pace of play down. You should be doing these calculations, see and feel, out of sight when your playing partner is hitting their shot. Then it is your turn, and you a ready. You’ve seen, selected, felt the shot and swing, ready to stand up and execute. Now apply this same routine and procedure for putting. While it is someone else’s turn; farthest from the hole plays first,.Do your ‘green reading’ on each and every putt. See the slope. Where is downhill? How far away are you? How fast is the green? Hopefully you spent a few minutes prior to your round to feel out the speed of the greens. Green reading means: visualizing ahead of time of the length, direction, and pace of the putt. You are guesstimating what you see and think the ball will do. In practice roll a ball ahead of time to watch what the ball does as it approaches the hole and where it finishes. After you ‘see’ the putt, ‘feel’ the length and pace of your stroke to give you the desired result. Again see and feel. Watch the pros, they do it. I think it helps to be looking at the hole, not the ground, when you take your practice swings. Your eyes are seeing the distance. Your brain determines the amount of oomph in your stroke. Brain sends messages to the muscles.
Pick up a ball, rolled up piece of paper, whatever, and toss it into the wastebasket. You will instinctively follow the routine and procedure I am spelling out. There are many different putting grips, putters, stroke styles etc. But all good putters see and feel and have a marvelous touch of distance control. Work on that more than your technique. That means you have to practice, no short cuts here. Quick ‘Tiger’ story. When he was at his best, a friend of mine worked course maintenance at the club where Tiger lived and practiced. My friend goes by Tigers house at 6am. Tiger is on the putting green outside his house, working on his stoke and putting. Worker goes and mows nine greens returns by Tigers house 11 am. “ Mr. Woods, what did you have for breakfast today?” They both shared similar diets. Tiger doesn’t look up, but replies, “I let you know, just finishing up here”. Maybe that’s why he made so many clutch putts to win 14 majors. I think somewhere as you read this Jordan, Jason, Rory, Rickie are rolling putts, or chipping and putting, seeing and feeling the shot in hand.
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Conservative: The Next Generation Continued From Page 18
voter dissatisfaction with the centre-right PC government didn't result in a mass migration to the more right wing Wildrose Party. Rather, it resulted in a leap to the left, over the essentially unoccupied centre-left of the political spectrum. For conservatives of all stripes to dismiss this as solely the result of tens of thousands of Albertans voting NDP on a whim, it would be done at their own peril. Furthermore, another lesson that must be learned by Federal Conservatives from their Republican cousins south of the border, is that they can ill afford the sort of contentious infighting and internal factions that are paralyzing their governance. It is critical that whoever ultimately chosen as Conservative leader, must be a person who can muster broad support, and articulate the "new and improved" conservative message in a positive and compelling manner. What then should conservatism be going forward? It should be a movement whose political parties reaffirm the classical conservative pillars as articulated in such works as the Sharon Statement. Freedom is a transcendent value: political, economic and social, and such freedoms cannot be maintained independent of one another. The role of government, therefore, is to promote and protect these freedoms by preserving order, providing national defense, and administering justice. A market economy is most in keeping with such personal freedoms, and the constraints of a constitutionally defined government. Threats to these freedoms, both internal and external, must be defeated, not simply contained. If that is the philosophical basis of modern conservatism, how do these beliefs play out in the context of current issues? By adhering to these foundational principles, it allows conservatives to move both left and right on the political spectrum, and that's not as strange as it may sound. If freedom is of paramount importance is all matters, conservatives should unabashedly promote democracy both domestically and in their foreign policy. Free trade should be their default position economically, as it promotes both Canada's resources and it's people's resourcefulness. A renewed conservative movement must become more inclusive socially; it must remind itself and those it wishes to attract that it was a Conservative Government, that of Diefenbaker, who enacted Canada's first Bill of Right. The spectre of the xenophobic right winger must be banished to the realm of myth, not reality.
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On the matter of immigration; conservatives must present a prudent, principled, and compassionate set of policies. Canada is a leader among nations, and with leadership comes responsibility. Immigrants should be seen be conservatives as opportunities, not burdens or threats. It should be noted that those looking to relocate to Canada from abroad are seeking exactly what conservative foundational principles provide - freedom, stability, safety, justice, and opportunity. Past conservative electoral success was in large part due to being able to connect with, and garner the support of ethnic communities that included many new Canadians. Social conservatives should observe that most newly arrived immigrants share many of their values. At the same time, conservatives should be unwavering in it's support of the military, fully committed to supporting veterans, and championing Canadian participation in the fight against terrorism. Conservatism and environmentalism cannot be perceived as mutually exclusive from one another. As conservatives are currently unencumbered by the responsibility of governing, they have the time to develop and articulate a realistic, pragmatic, and achievable set of environmental goals. Given the current economic conditions, and the appetite for the discussion among Canadian society, this must be a priority. While there will always be a very vocal and visible radical environmentalist element, most Canadians are objective in their approach. This can be a tremendous opportunity for conservatives to raise the plane of the debate above the fear mongering on both sides - not just by communicating what their position is, but why. Conservatives are weighing in on this. Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown recently said, “I would (tell) all those who are seeking the Conservative leadership that building a modern Conservative movement means having a Conservative response to tackling and protecting our environment". How can both existing conservatives and environmentally concerned Canadians be satisfied? Simply present the facts, but not provocatively and adversarially. Oil isn't going away overnight, and as much as radical environmentalists wish it otherwise, it's a very complex matter to drastically alter it's uses, which are myriad. It's not only of economic importance, but in many cases a matter of ethical concern, to source what oil we do use domestically. It's time to illuminate the issues; Alberta's oil sands represent 0.15 of
1% of global carbon emissions, within the margins of error of measurement methodology. Advising abandoning their development is the equivalent of Rome advising the Vatican to stop driving the Popemobile to combat it's smog problem. Many of the alternative oil sources satisfying our domestic consumption are not exactly paragons of virtue on the human rights front. If our PM wants to prove his Feminist mettle, he should tell Saudi Arabia to keep it's oil, and start piping domestic oil to New Brunswick tomorrow. Politics aside, pipelines are both the safest and least carbon producing means of moving oil that's going to be used anyway. Parochialism on the part of old guard conservatives will accomplish nothing more than elongate the time spent on the opposition benches. Like the backpacker discovers, some qualities are worth reaffirming, but some require alteration, while still others require casting aside, to be replaced by by new ideas. Being almost two decades into the 21st Century, it's time for 21st Century conservatism - next generation conservatives. Brent
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