gomery

I've got to blog about it, right? The release of the long-anticipated Gomery report is The Biggest News here, so how can I not mention it? Trouble is, I don't have much to say. Just observing.

So Paul Martin was exonerated, but most people don't believe his hands are clean, and the Liberal minority government may be in trouble. Got it.

But what is the alternative? The Conservatives, Bloc and NDP will form an alliance against the Liberals? That seems unlikely, no? Jack Layton especially can't be counted on to do that. Now there'll be an election, but will the results produce a substantially different government?

I write this with much humility, aware of my ignorance, as I have been observing Canadian politics only for about two years, and on this nitty-gritty level, for less than a year. What's more, this kind of politics is not really my thing. I like issues; this is distraction. But I do understand the potential importance of the Gomery findings, so I'm trying to get a handle on it.

What's your take?

pups at play

The dogs are going wild this afternoon, tussling and tumbling all over the living and dining rooms. For a while they were chasing each other around and around the dining room table - until Buster discovered he could go under. I swear he was mugging for the camera.

It's impossible to catch this action with a camera. I'd have to post a video to really show it to you. But for what it's worth, here are my maniacs.

theatre

Does anyone know the Soulpepper Theatre Company of Toronto? I have links and info online, I'm wondering if anyone has personal experience.

I love theatre. I've been seeing theatre literally all my life. My parents, who were big Broadway theatre-goers when they were younger, took us on a regular basis. Special gifts for graduations or other milestones often involved tickets to a Broadway show.

In college - university, I think I'm supposed to say - I started working with a professional company in Philadelphia, learning the subscription marketing business, and after I graduated, I went into theatre administration. I worked for two well-known off-Broadway companies in New York. I met great people, learned a lot, saw tons of theatre, lived on poverty wages, and wondered when I would write a novel.

Unlike most of the people I worked with, I wasn't driven by a serious Theatre Bug, hadn't been doing theatre since I was 10 years old, wasn't living my lifelong dream. I was doing something rewarding and interesting, but only one of the many career possibilities I had kicked around. Mainly I was avoiding going to law school, which was the paternal plan for my life.

My last theatre position was a nightmare, and it gave me the incentive I needed. I ditched the career altogether, found a few ways to support myself that were not creative or mentally demanding, bought a new typewriter (yes, I am old!), and started to write a book.

Around this time, I met Allan, and his non-career-oriented perspective on life helped me find the courage to do what I wanted. (Being a nanny and a freelance proofreader weren't considered appropriate career choices for Ivy League graduates. Whatever.) Allan was also a writer who currently wasn't writing, and we helped each other find the writer within.

My time in the off-Broadway theatre also coincided with the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic. By this timing quirk, I was touched by the crisis very early on. Vast numbers of people I knew from that time are gone, including two very dear friends.

Fast-forward to my post-theatre life, which is to say the last 20 years. I still love theatre. Seeing plays has always been a part of our lives, although I never became a fanatical theatre-goer, a common type in New York City. We've occasionally gotten season subscriptions, which can be a great way to put more art in your life and ensure a certain amount of interesting evenings out each year. (As a former theatre marketing director, I am compelled to note that subscribers are the lifeblood of nonprofit companies.)

In yesterday's Globe And Mail there was a brochure from Soulpepper. They're a repertory company, meaning they employ a troupe of actors from whom each play is cast - a true theatre company, not a star-based system. They have a space in Toronto's Distillery District, which I haven't seen yet, but very much want to. So I'm thinking of jumping into the arts scene in Toronto with a season subscription to Soulpepper.

a bust

Two.

That's how many trick-or-treaters we had. Two. The doorbell rang once. There were two somewhat older kids dressed as a cowboy and a cowgirl. The end.

Would anyone like a bucket full of candy?

Yes, I should have asked the neighbours. But there are so many kids in this neighbourhood!

They must all be avoiding us because we're American.

Um, if you just started reading this blog, that's a joke.

thank you to someone

One of you crazy people nominated we move to canada for a 2005 Best Canadian Blog award, in the personal category. Whoever you are, I thank you.

I notice that two of my favorite Canadian blogs, Canadian Cynic and The Gazetteer, were nominated in the liberal category.

Now everyone go stuff that ballot box!

I'm kidding. I don't even know who votes or how the voting works.

boo

lucky 700,000

Would-be Canadians, take note. Lead story in today's Globe And Mail:

Ottawa plans to unveil sweeping changes to immigration, starting today with an increase in the annual intake of new Canadians, and a promise to increase much-needed temporary workers and tackle the enormous backlog of 700,000 prospective immigrants.

Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, who will table his annual report to Parliament today, says Canada hopes to be taking in as many as 300,000 immigrants a year within five years, and will start by raising its target for next year to between 225,000 and 255,000. Canada is on track to accept 245,000 this year, the very high end of last year's target.

"We have to start thinking about the Immigration Department as a recruiting vehicle for Canada's demographic and labour market needs ..... we are the lungs of the country," said Mr. Volpe in an interview with The Globe and Mail. "We are producing more jobs than the labour market has workers for. ..... We're desperate for immigration."

He also pledged to tackle the backlog problem and introduce a system to expedite the processing of the more than 700,000 prospective immigrants who face waits of as long as 48 months to have their applications processed in Canadian missions around the world.

Under the current process, immigrants are selected on the basis of education, French-and English-language skills, and adaptability, a recruitment system that attracts mainly highly educated people who complain their professional credentials are not accepted in Canada. Many foreign doctors and engineers say they end up working as taxi drivers and waiters — a trend confirmed by Statistics Canada, which has found that recent immigrants earn less than their Canadian-born counterparts despite higher levels of education.

Mr. Volpe does not want to scrap this selection system, but he wants to bring in more workers on temporary visas (there are about 95,000 a year) to fill positions in the trades, such as pipe fitters and truck drivers.

He plans to consult with his provincial counterparts, unions, business and immigrant-serving groups to better understand exactly what kinds of workers are needed. He envisions an expanded local and provincial role in immigrant selection.

"Every provincial minister wants more immigrants. Today in Saskatoon, they need 5,000 more people to fill new jobs. But in order for us under the current system to bring in 5,000 people, we have to bring in 15,000 (their family members) and it will take three years," Mr. Volpe said. "So we have to think about a more flexible system, a way to get in professional people and skilled people."

Mr. Volpe is also planning to introduce a new "in-Canada" application that will allow temporary workers and students to apply for landed-immigrant status once they have worked here for a certain number of months, in much the same way that live-in caregivers can apply for permanent residency after two years working as nannies.

Another priority for the Immigration Department is to process applications more quickly.

"Under the current system, we make people wait months before we even open their application. We would like to open their applications more quickly, and get them started on the process," an immigration official said. Applicants who have been accepted on a provisional basis could start language training and credential recognition overseas, while awaiting their landed papers. The department also plans to hire more staff in either missions overseas or in a centralized processing centre in Canada.

Mr. Volpe is also in favour of introducing a limited amnesty plan and granting legal status to the thousands of workers who toil in the black-market economy, particularly in Ontario's construction sector. This initiative, however, is complicated because 11 other federal agencies must sign on, including the RCMP, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Finance and Justice departments and Human Resources Skills Development Canada.

"You have to sell them a model that everybody can live with because there are consequences for all of them," said Mr. Volpe, adding that he "totally supports" a plan to regularize the status of undocumented workers, if they pass security and background checks. An estimated 200,000 undocumented workers live in Canada.

This year's annual report will show that Canada accepted 236,000 immigrants in 2004. Of those, 57 per cent are economic immigrants, and 43 per cent are in the family class, including refugees and others granted permanent residency on humanitarian grounds. Canada is on track to accept 245,000 immigrants in 2005 -- at the high end of its target and a signal of what's to come.

what i'm watching: rock and roll circus

Have you seen The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus? This private concert film, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, was made for a British TV special in 1968. Besides the Stones, featuring Brian Jones at what turned out to be the very end of his life, it included The Who, John Lennon (playing in a band with Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell and Keith Richards), Yoko Ono, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal and others.

After filming Circus, the Stones weren't happy with its quality, and it never aired. Naturally it became legendary, with bootleg copies popping up now and again, and clips seen in other rock movies like the Stones's "Twenty Five By Five" and The Who's "The Kids Are Alright".

Rock And Roll Circus was finally released in 1996, and now it's on DVD with some juicy extras. We saw it last night and were utterly riveted.

The music is great, the bands are exciting and the staging is wacky and original, but it's Mick who steals the show. To see Mick Jagger in 1968 is to marvel at a master. I've always been fascinated by, and in awe of, Jagger's abilities as a showman. I've seen hundreds of concerts, dozens and dozens of bands, and to me, he is The Best. I don't mean no one else thrills me, or that I don't recognize all kinds of talents when I see them. I mean that in the category of Lead Singer, Front Man, Showman, Jagger sets the standard against which all others can be measured.

In Rock And Roll Circus, you see a side of Jagger that you don't get in concert, whether live or on film. He's playing directly into the camera, and his presence is positively electric. He is powerful, emotional, always in complete control, and unbelievably hot. No, not hot, I'll use a more old-fashioned word: he is sexy. He just oozes sexuality. This movie is made of great performances, but Jagger performing "Sympathy For The Devil" is out of this world.

The DVD has a long interview with Pete Townshend about the filming of "Circus," from its origins to memories of the day itself. Townshend is wonderfully articulate, and the interview alone is worth the price of the rental. Although this morning I'm thinking we have to own this. (More on the movie here.)

go

Wmtc has a flurry of new readers lately. Many people seem to be finding me through the expatriate connection. Friends of wmtc who file themselves under "Expatriate Bloggers" are (in alpha order) Expat Traveler, Melusina, Nicole in London, Suitcase Jenny (I love your name!) and Traveller One. The Student Nurse is soon to become an expatriate, and I feel I should mention one of wmtc's most longtime readers, the Canadian Expatriates. Did I miss anyone? Don't be shy!

No matter how you stumbled on our little community, welcome. This blog has become, among other things, my invaluable resource for learning about Canada, Canadians and what people are thinking.

Yesterday, people were thinking about the GO trains. I'll tell you what I know, then others who know much more can fill things in. At least one transpotter reads wmtc, as well as several GTA folks who may want to add to my impressions.

According to their own website, GO Transit "is Canada's first, and Ontario's only, interregional public transit system, linking Toronto with the surrounding regions of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)." Several train and bus lines connect Toronto-area suburbs and exurbs with downtown T.O. Here's a map of the system; train lines are in color, buses in black. All the train lines feed into Union Station.

Our line, Lakeshore, is in red, running from Hamilton in the west (Hi ALPF!) to Oshawa in the east. We're the Port Credit stop. Our house is a ten-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the station.

The GO trains are clean, fast and reliable. They're the first double-decker trains I've ever seen. (Here's a picture.) Riding isn't cheap, but the fares don't seem outrageous, at least to someone from the New York metro area. As I've noted elsewhere, payment is mostly on the honour system. Allan, who has ridden much more than me because he's been temping, has never seen a ticket check. I saw one: one morning, a GO employee was cruising through the cars asking everyone to show their tickets.

The downside, in my opinion, is the infrequency of service. We were originally looking at townhouses further out in Mississauga (look for the Meadowvale stop on the orange line). In researching the area, we naturally checked out the train schedules, to see how much commuting would cost. We were shocked to learn that the trains only operate for standard commuting hours. A few trains run inbound (from the suburbs to the downtown), say from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., then a few trains run outbound (from downtown back to the suburbs) from around 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.. And that's it. Nothing during the day, no nights, and no weekends.

This strikes me as very poor planning. As a former (very former, a small lifetime ago) theatre administrator, I immediately thought of all the cultural organizations who are effectively cut off from a commuter audience. If you wanted to do something downtown after work, you'd have to drive in, which means dealing with traffic and paying for parking, and you'd have to plan ahead. You could never just stay in the city spontaneously, to go to a Blue Jays game or take in some music. For Allan and I, working nontraditional hours, it would be disastrous. Looking deeper into the schedules, we learned that the Lakeshore Line had service all day and on weekends, and determined that we had to live near those trains. (Long-time readers must be so friggin sick of reading that!) There were many other reasons we wanted to live in Port Credit, but the train service was a huge factor.

I think that's all I know about GO.

he gets a job

The Large Canadian Law Firm was very impressed. Allan starts training on Monday.

It's the kind of position we were hoping for: full-time hours squeezed into three long days. We've both worked that way for many years, although for a long time we had it down to two days. (We knew we wouldn't be able to do that in Toronto, because the per-hour rate wouldn't be as high.) The third day's a killer, but it's worth it to get the day-job over with all at once. Allan is submitting a book proposal soon, and three days a week will leave him lots of time to write procrastinate.

This job has decent pay and good benefits, but there are some strange hours. I always say that we were intent on living near the Lakeshore Line GO trains, because it's the only line that runs all day and on weekends, and we were sure our day-jobs would have unconventional hours. Unfortunately, Allan's hours will be so unconventional that there won't be any trains at all. He'll get out too late, the trains will have stopped running.

So he'll be driving to work after all. The firm pays for parking, and there won't be any real traffic at that hour, so I think it will be fine. But still, it's funny how you can't plan things too precisely. At the same time, it's our desire to be on the Lakeshore Line that brought us to Port Credit, and our house. Lucky, that.

Major leaf-raking this weekend, plus other household chores. No exploring planned, that's probably on hold until Allan settles in on his new job. Training days + regular hours = lots and lots of work for a while.

Have greet weekends, everybody!

first frost

This morning when I walked the dogs, the plants along the waterfront trail were covered in a layer of ice. It's still mild enough for a light jacket, but I need gloves in the morning, and today I could have used my ear muffs.

can of worms

I'm opening a sticky subject here, my need to understand causing me to throw caution to the wind. It's about Alberta. Alberta vs. the rest of the Canada.

The Globe And Mail runs something about Alberta's gripes every day, and I try to follow along. If it weren't for wmtc's resident Albertan, and the ensuing arguments in comments, I would've had no warning. It's not something Americans know about. As is, observing for more than a year, I have only the smallest of clues.

Here's what I know. Please pardon my ignorance and oversimplification, but I have to start somewhere.

The province of Alberta is rich, because it has oil.

The province of Alberta is conservative, relative to the rest of Canada. Hmm. Funny how those two go together.

Because of its great oil wealth, Alberta revenue helps fund services in the rest of Canada. (These are transfer payments?) Apparently many Albertans resent this. They want to keep Alberta's money in Alberta. They don't want the rest of Canada to have as many "social programs" (very broad term there) as it does now, or they want them to pay their own way.

I don't get this.

Canada is a country. There is oil in one place and not another. A place with high revenues from oil reserves can help balance lower revenues elsewhere. What's wrong with that? Should the provinces be treated as separate countries, and take a sink-or-swim attitude towards each other? (What is it about conservatives and "states rights"?)

It's not as if the people of Alberta are somehow more talented than the rest of the country, and have become rich off their peculiar talents. It's the geology upon which they happen to live. If I were typing this in Calgary instead of outside Toronto, how would that make a difference? Why should I keep the wealth of the land simply because I live there, rather than more equitably distribute it throughout the country?

I've caught a tremendous amount of anger from Albertans towards the rest of Canada, and talk of secession. I can't say I understand it. Once in an earlier post, I remarked, they act as if Albertans are the only people who pay taxes. I pay taxes, too. What am I missing here? Why all this anger and bitterness?

I understand that every resident of Alberta will soon receive a $400 "prosperity cheque", a piece of the great windfall in their province's coffers. To me this sounds suspiciously like the $600 tax rebate bribe W gave out when he first took office. (Along with many other Americans, we sent ours to groups trying to stem the devastation caused by the 2000 Selection.) I heard Paul Martin making noises about tax rebates, then read many letters in the Globe And Mail from taxpayers expressing the same sentiments: we don't want it. Use it.

Here's a view on those Albertan cheques. It's very funny, especially now that I understand the provincial stereotypes.

So here are my questions, folks: What's up with Alberta? Why do Albertans want to secede? Should the threat be taken seriously? What would make them happy? That is, what kind of Canada would they like to be living in?

I'm looking forward to reading your answers, from many different points of view. I ask only that you be reasonable and refrain from personal attacks. That is, no posts that begin with "Rob thinks..."

more congratulations

Congratulations to WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes on coming out as a lesbian.

Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is opening up about being a lesbian, telling a magazine that she's "tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about."

Swoopes, honored last month as the WNBA's Most Valuable Player, told ESPN The Magazine for a story on newsstands Wednesday that she didn't always know she was gay and fears that coming out could jeopardize her status as a role model.

"Do I think I was born this way? No," Swoopes said. "And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are."

Swoopes, who was married and has an 8-year-old son, said her 1999 divorce "wasn't because I'm gay."

She said her reason for coming out now is merely because she wants to be honest.

"It's not something that I want to throw in people's faces. I'm just at a point in my life where I'm tired of having to pretend to be somebody I'm not," the 34-year-old Swoopes said. "I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love."

A release from ESPN The Magazine about the story did not disclose the identity of Swoopes' partner.

A five-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes is the WNBA's only three-time MVP. She played for the Comets during their run of four championships from 1997-2000, but missed the 2001 season with a knee injury.

She said her biggest worry about her revelation is that people will be afraid to look up to her.

"I don't want that to happen," she said. "Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I've won. I'm still the same person. I'm Sheryl."

Swoopes led the WNBA in scoring last year, averaging 18.6 points. She also averaged 4.3 assists and 2.65 steals while making 85 percent of her free throws and playing a league-high 37.1 minutes a game.

She said it "irritates" her that no one talks about gays playing in men's sports, but that it's become an issue in the WNBA.

"Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court," she said. "Women play just as hard as guys do. We're just as competitive."

Hey Sheryl, it irritates me, too. Female athletes are put in a convoluted double-bind. If male athletes can't be gay because they're too manly, female athletes have to be gay because they're so manly. Or some shit like that. Many female athletes feel pressure to constantly display their femininity and heterosexuality. If they are queer, they're confirming the worst, so they'd better stay in the closet. Props to Swoopes for just being herself.

I love that she's not denying her hetero past and succumbing to the "born that way" trap. Sure, you might be born that way, and that's fine. But what if you're not? What if you just fell in love or lust, and decided to go with it - and it happened to be with someone of the same gender? You know what? That's ok, too.

Professional athletes who come out are pioneers, blazing trails for future generations. I await the first male professional athlete - in a team sport - who comes out while he's still playing. I can't wait for him to rock the world.

history

Congratulations to the 2005 Chicago White Sox on sweeping the Houston Astros to win the franchise's first championship in 88 years.

Red Sox in 2004 (first since 1918), White Sox in 2005 (first since 1917), and both sweeps! What are the odds? I don't believe in curses, but I do love the coincidence of all these long-suffering fans being delivered into joy in successive years.

The pressure's on the Cubs now!

a reader writes

I get email on a regular basis from Americans interested in emigrating to Canada. It seems to come in bunches - nothing for a weeks, then three or four at once. This one was particularly moving. I'm omitting some personal details and some embarrassing (though highly gratifying) praise of wmtc.

I just wanted to tell you that I'm happy to have stumbled across your blog in the course of my research. It's been very informative and has given me some hope that I'll be able to somehow get my family out of the U.S. I greatly appreciate your unapologetic tone and the way you are able to articulate the reasons for your departure. People like to talk a lot of shit about departing these shores but they can never back it up, know what I'm sayin'?

Since January of 2004 I've been looking for a way to emigrate to either NZ or Canada. After 11 months of researching NZ immigration requirements I concluded that the expense, difficulty, and distance from family would just be too much to deal with. I keep tabs on the situation to see if things could shift in our favor; however with Winston Peters being appointed the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and the weakening of the Labor Party, I'm feeling doubtful about any liberalization of the immigration process.

So Canada... . . . It's way too cold, but democracy...Hey! What a novelty! . . . I cannot yet figure out how to qualify under the skilled worker category as I don't have quite enough points and quite the right job description. My main problem is that I dropped out of university and I lose out on a lot of potential points because of that. I'm gonna keep working on it though-I may go back to school and finish my degree, making sure to include some French courses to improve my proficiency so that I can gain some more points on my application.

I've resigned myself to the fact that it is a process of two to five years, possibly longer. I just try to take things in steps, paying off [debt], saving money, finding a way to go back to school, looking for different skills I can pick up at work, learning more computer programs, etc. Just trying to keep myself from getting overwhelmed and just chipping away at things. My mother was an immigrant and I think the whole task before me scares and depresses me sometimes. We used to spend some time at the INS office, let me tell you.

When I remind myself why I need to do this the task becomes easier. We are firmly entrenched in Iraq. I believe we will eventually be instituting a draft in this country. I have a 19-year old sister who speaks, reads and writes Arabic, a 16-year old brother and a 14-year old sister and I will not let them be killed by the psychopathic criminals who comprise Bush's administration. No. If there is any way I can position myself in another country where I can harbor them for the duration of the war, I will. Their friends can come too, and I don't give a shit if I'm prosecuted for it.

I have a three-year old son. If it's not this war it will be another war and then another war...Syria, Iran, who knows where. Do you know what I mean? I cannot even say these things to other Americans-the citizens of this country are just delusional at this point. I cannot even bear the thought of such things coming to pass, yet I fear they might. Cheney and his bullshit..."decades of war"...well, I had a crying jag over that one. Insane.

My father served eight years in Vietnam. He thought he was going to be drafted so he went voluntarily in order to have a choice and not be put into ground combat. I can say from personal experience that war has effects that last a lifetime. The people who are sending the troops to die don't care. To them, other people's children are disposable objects.

. .. I simply cannot find a way to do that and provide an adequate upbringing for my son. And so, I need to remove myself from the equation completely and take my education, skills and child elsewhere. No matter how long it takes.

Thanks for providing a good example for working class people-people who aren't lawyers, IT professionals, academics or corporate managers, people who don't have equity from the sale of their homes because we could never own homes in a million years, people who don't have tons of savings or immigration lawyers, but who DO have a conscience. . .

Pretty amazing, huh? Here's an excerpt from her second email, after I wrote back.

You know, what I wrote yesterday was only one aspect of why I want to emigrate. There is also the issue of healthcare, which I currently have but could easily lose, the affordability of university education for my son, and also what I perceive as being more of an acceptance of multiculturalism. My family is multiethnic and this is an important issue for us. The United States is a racist country. I have dealt with that fact for three decades and I'm done with it. I am just done with it. I realize that Canada is not perfect and that all of these things are subject to change but I don't think it will ever be quite like the U.S. And that's good.

You know, the one thing these emails all have in common is the expression "You've given me hope". "Your blog gives me hope." Interesting how in the GNOTFOTE, so many people need hope - that they can get out.

comment gems

At my recent post about waiting for health care, Evan posted this excellent comment:

. . . BC also has an approximately 3 month waiting period: New residents or persons re-establishing residence in B.C. are eligible for coverage after completing a waiting period that normally consists of the balance of the month of arrival plus two months. For example, if an eligible person arrives during the month of July, coverage is available October 1. If absences from Canada exceed a total of 30 days during the waiting period, eligibility for coverage may be affected.

As another American transplanted to Canada I am in awe of the Canadian health system. The fact that it gets the job done with less government funding is also incredible.

It's not perfect. Waiting times can be a problem for non-life-threatening conditions (my wife has waited 10 months and will probably wait another 4-8 for a knee operation). But one of my blue-collar neighbors recently had a massive heart problem and was in ICU for about 4 weeks. He's home now. He's alive, although he may never work as a carpenter again, and he's not going to lose everything he owns to medical bills. I'll endure wait times for that kind of tradeoff.

The American system is as it is for the benefit of politicians and health care companies, not for the benefit of the American people. It's going to stay that way until the American people decide it's got the change and make it a priority. You'd think that 50 million people (is it up to 50? I usually hear 40) would make it a priority and start telling their congresscritters that their vote is dependent upon healthcare reform, but apparently wasting money in Iraq is more important. :-(

It's hard for me to imagine the American people making national health insurance a priority and electing leadership who will make it a reality. The people who would benefit from such a system are so divided, and so rarely see their common interests. (Cross-reference recent remarks about ignorant Americans voting against their economic interests.)

It's so easy for a politician with a stake in the insurance industry to wave the spectre of "free choice" and "big government" (i.e., socialism), not to mention the death-knell: taxes. And who is willing to take on the insurance companies? The last attempt we saw at national health insurance, a la Clinton, was pre-approved by Big Insurance, not exactly a recipe for lowering costs and extending care.

But hey. Just because I can't imagine something happening doesn't mean it can't or won't. It may only mean I lack imagination.

In yesterday's progress report, Tijo directed me to this blog - another American living in Canada - and the blogger's one-year update. Here are some highlights:

It's nice to have a healthplan that lets me choose any doctor I want at a net increase in taxes significantly less than what I would have paid for equivalent healthcare in the US. It's sad to listen to so many foolhardy Americans defending a freedom of choice healthcare system which was in truth driven to extinction over a decade ago by insurance companies seeking to slice a profit out of already expensive medical care. Sure the Canadian system has its own problems, but if you want to know what those problems are, ask any Canadian, not an American.

. . .

Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and pretty close to true ethnic equal opportunity are nice concepts as well. Americans who are into that kind of thing should give them a try, rather than pretending they already have them.

For someone I know is reading, he also mentions "near blanket wifi coverage - if there's no network where you're sitting, walk half a block and you'll find one." OK, now you have to move to Canada!

The rest of the post is great, too, and really well written. Looks like an interesting site.

progress report

Life here in Port Credit continues to feel more like real life, and less like some strange role-play game. It's remarkably easy to adjust to more comfort and more convenience: the house, the car, the washer-dryer, the dishwasher.

Allan has been temping three or four days each week at a downtown law firm. They are - of course - wowed by his performance. Yesterday he had a second interview for a permanent position of the kind we're hoping for him - three long days with odd hours. This spot would be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, about 2 pm to 1 am. It's at one of the biggest Canadian firms, so the job comes with good benefits, like dental and prescription coverage (Americans may not realize those are not covered under the provincial health plans), a transportation allowance, and a fair amount of paid time off. We're waiting to see if they make him an offer.

My second Ancient Civilizations book assignment still hasn't started - it was supposed to begin in early or mid September! But my editor assures me the book is mine, and that's all that matters. I've started to write my next Kids On Wheels assignment, and hope to get that out of the way before the grueling book deadlines begin.

I'm purposely keeping my KOW work light this issue, to leave maximum time for Ancient Civs. At some point I'll be writing a substantial chunk of the KOW magazine. It doesn't pay well (although the publishers are very fair, and pay me as best as they can), but I love it and love being part of the project. Here's my big perk.

That's sarcasm, by the way. The title doesn't mean anything.

A dogsitter came over yesterday, and I think she's going to work out excellently. Introducing Buster to a new person is a time-consuming (and expensive) process. Sometimes I feel discouraged at the amount of effort involved, I wish he were a normal dog. But on the positive side, which is the far greater share, an excellent trainer taught us how to acclimate Buster to a new care-person in progressive steps. The method is logical, safe and works every time. It's even worked with a dogwalker who was a little afraid of Buster and not very good at following our direction, so when conditions are better, it's virtually guaranteed.

The woman who came over yesterday is heavily involved in animal rescue, so she's very familiar with dealing with frightened or anxious animals, plus she has a dog of her own with behavioral issues. (Of course, her dog weighs 10 pounds, and Buster weighs 60, but the principles are the same.) She enjoys petsitting while her partner takes care of their animals, and she lives not far from us. She's coming over again today. I'm very optimistic that we'll be able to go away without the pups.

The house is pretty much finished. The only things that aren't done: nothing on the walls yet, nothing on the living and dining room windows, no knick-knacks anywhere (which I'm kind of liking) and a few long-term projects that I'll do when I'm motivated and have money, all cosmetic, nothing necessary.

We had a hell of time establishing good internet access in Allan's basement lair, but we think we've finally found the right equipment and settings. Here's hoping, because we both want his laptop off the dining room table.

That's the ground-level view. From the stratosphere, I love not being in the United States. I love being in Canada. It's better here.

2000

2,000 US men and women have now died in Iraq.

From United for Peace And Justice:

We grieve for these two thousand men and women, killed in the prime of their lives, for a war based on lies, and we grieve for the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have also died in the chaos and carnage the Bush Administration has brought to their country.

It's time to bring the troops home -- now. Not one more U.S. serviceperson should give his or her life to this senseless war. Not one more Iraqi should be killed. Not one more U.S. dollar should be spent sustaining this war and occupation.

All around the country, people will gather tomorrow, Wednesday, October 26, to honor the dead and call for the troops to come home. We urge you to join one of these events -- or organize one in your community if none has yet been planned.

UFPJ is supporting the call made by UFPJ member groups -- American Friends Service Committee, Gold Star Families for Peace and Military Families Speak Out -- for these actions.

For a list of the more than 400 events being planned, or to list your own event, go to the American Friends Service Committee's Wage Peace Campaign.

lesson

Recently I was contacted by someone who wants to reprint my Roe v. Wade essay from Common Dreams. It's an educational publisher that compiles writing on specific Supreme Court decisions, for study in schools. I was very flattered to be included.

The publishers sent me a permissions agreement, which looked acceptable, meaning they weren't asking for anything ridiculous like exclusive rights or a copyright transfer. Under "payment", there were two checkboxes - "gratis", and "fee"; under "fee" there was a blank for an amount.

The man who emailed me hadn't mentioned a fee. Mind you, they aren't asking to use the essay on a website which the public accesses for free. It's for a hardcover book, published by a for-profit company.

I thanked him, told him I was flattered, and asked about payment. Guess what? There is a fee - for those who ask. No one ever would have mentioned money if I hadn't.

Lesson #1: Always ask for money.

Lesson #2: Always ask for more money. The worst they can do is say no.

Lesson #3: Your time and your work is valuable. In our society, value can be measured in several ways, but only one of them will pay your rent.

Lesson #4: Businesses are always trying to cut costs. One cost that's historically easy to trim is writer's fees, since there are so many writers, many desperate for work, and many undervaluing their worth.*

Thank you, thank you, thank you, National Writers Union. I learned so much, and those lessons continue to serve me well.




* If anyone questions why writers should be paid for re-use of their work - after all, we're all blogging for free, right? - ask yourself how much of your job you'd be willing to donate to your employer without compensation. If you still have questions, ask me and I'll try to explain.

the wait

Yesterday it was announced that provincial health ministries will have set wait-times benchmarks for five health conditions by the December 31st deadline.

Health ministers from across the country say they will establish by a December deadline the first targets for how long people must wait to be treated for such ailments as cancer and joint replacements. But it was unclear how extensive the list will be and how much it will help patients.

"How many [benchmarks] there are will depend on the evidence in a number of areas that we have," federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said yesterday after a weekend meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

"If you ask me if we'll have 20 benchmarks in the area of cancer, I will tell you no, from what I know now, because it is a very sophisticated, complex area," he said. "But we will have some benchmarks in all areas."

Provincial and territorial ministers committed in a health accord signed last year to establish scientifically based benchmarks for waiting times in five treatment areas -- cancer care, heart treatment, diagnostic imaging, sight restoration and joint replacement -- by Dec. 31. In return, the federal government agreed to give them an extra $41-billion over 10 years.

The waiting benchmark is a complex idea, and I'll be interested to see how it plays out. But I mention it for a specific reason. I've mentioned before that US media coverage of the Canadian health care system is uniformly negative. I'm not just talking about right-wingnuts. Even in moderate venues like The New York Times or Time magazine, articles about Canada's system always have a negative slant. Is it any wonder, then, that most Americans have a distorted view of the system, based on myths and lies?

Every American I've ever spoken to, except those who have researched the Canadian system on their own, believe Canadians wait dangerously long times for treatment and that anyone with any money travels to the US for health care. If I press for a source, it's a vague "I've heard...". They've heard. Yeah.

If the Canadian health care system was as bad as the American media reports, Canada would have shockingly high rates of untreated diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and millions of Canadians would be dropping dead while they waited for treatment. Somehow I think we'd hear about that.

Now, it would take an awful lot to convince me that a national single-payer system, no matter how problematic in reality, could ever be worse than the crazy non-system in the US. As Allan likes to say, there are 50 million Americans who would love to be waiting for an operation! (That is, the uninsured.) That number doesn't count the underinsured, and everyone who can't leave their dead-end jobs because they would lose their coverage, and all the folks paying increasingly gigantic amounts of their salary for insurance.

Suffice to say that I do not need convincing.

However, I understand there are problems - mainly caused, according to my progressive Canadian friends, by funding cutbacks that are now being restored. I've had uniformly good reports from wmtc readers, except for the serious shortage of doctors, especially in Ontario, and especially in the GTA. In another month, Allan and I will qualify for Ontario Health (Ontario being the only province without immediate coverage; there's a 90-day waiting period). Naturally I'm extremely curious to see how the system works in reality.

The recent focus on waiting benchmarks cuts to the heart of the most popular American myth about the Canadian system. On the Ontario Health website, there's a big section on wait times, including a page on wait time myths, and what is being done.

Part of me (the immature part!) feels like tracking down all the nut-jobs who've left comments here warning me that if I ever get sick, I'll die waiting for treatment, unless I come running back to TGNOTFOTE.