When I talk about the government, I usually complain.
I do try to give credit where it's due, when it's due, but it's always hard because for all the good the federal government does, there is so much unjustifiable hogwash, whether it be legislation or the appointment of new senators.
Before I denounce the feds for their latest misstep, I will congratulate them on some things they did well in an effort to be less biased and divisive.
The Conservatives didn't bend over and cough up the requested $8.8 million for a grandiose celebration of the Commonwealth Queen's 60th year of royal power, in a solid attempt to turn her diamond jubilee into a more economically appropriate bronze jubilee.
They cut it down to a $7.5 million expense, and one that we'll all consider to be very worthwhile when the next federal budget comes out with cuts everywhere else. I'll never understand why we spend money on 100-year-old figureheads.
They are also getting rid of the ban on early transmission of election results. It's a good move, but if they legalize anything else, then the new jails they want are going to be pretty empty.
Now for the ridiculous political garbage from the last week.
Not legally allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed in Canada because their native countries have those unions outlawed is absolute nonsense. Since when does Canada care what other countries laws are concerning a social non-issue like gay marriage?
It's like the federal government is saying that if the country you originated from practised Shariah law, you can live by that when you come to Canada; or if you're a 20-year-old American in Canada looking for a drink and the bars can refuse to serve you because you aren't of age in your own country. We are saying that if you don't like the restrictive or oppressive laws of your country and wish to live in a freer one like ours, good luck because when you get here, you will be treated by the laws of the place from whence you came.
The best way for Canada to remain relevant on the world stage is by showing that we are a great country that wants to bring in people from all over the world to live in a place free of the injustices that other countries have. Just because some countries have backwards laws, doesn't mean we should uphold them.
At least the justice minister was quick to admit this loophole in the system was offensive. After a day of unclear statements, what he seems to have said more plainly last Friday was that this was simply a grave legislative oversight, like an embarrassing typo, that would be remedied immediately so these lovebirds can finally get a divorce.
Another good move by the government isn't even just a good move by the feds, but by The Great Stephen Harper himself. After a report that indicated Harper would face-off against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for 40th-anniversary celebrations of the 1972 Summit Series, the PMO denounced the report as mere hearsay.
Nobody wants to see Harper and Putin play hockey, so kudos to Harper for not scribbling that into his to-do list.
After the Queen's jubilee and the hockey series, how many more celebrations does Canada have scheduled this year? We probably won't bother with Canada's 145th anniversary because we're all pooling our money to buy her something unforgettable for the big 1-5-0.
