Survivor? We Call It Camping ~ Canadian Thread #5

[xfcanadian]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

ok...i grew up in BC, so i could never handle very cold winters, or lots of snow, yikes!

Ice storms are just irritating. Literally several inches of ice on everything. So hard to walk, people were falling all over the place on campus, ice was falling off the buildings, just danger everywhere. I never saw freezing rain until i moved to Ontario.

Here is where I stand on the elections. I like the Liberals, i think they did a good job. I moved to Ontario in Grade 10, and i was shocked at how bad the school funding was. The equiptment, and the arts programs were terrible compared to BC. In BC, they had such a great Band, dance, art and drama program...i was told that it was due to Mike Harris, who stripped the schools of funding.

I was also shocked to learn that Catholic schools were publically funded. I didn't know that existed. I guess its ok that they except non-catholic people and everything, but it just seems like a waste of money to have 2 school boards. Also, it would be nice to 'opt' out of having to contribute money to fund catholic schools. I don't really like organized religion, i don't like putting money towards that.

Over the last couple of years, due to Dalton giving more funding to education, i am now able to get $2000 a year, which is a disability grant (i have a learning disability), for my university tuition. Since i have to pay for everything, and have 2 loans, this is a lifesaver for me. So, yeah of course i voted for him

Also i like that he ran the entire campaign without saying any negative things about the other canidates. I don't like american style politics, i think its great that he did that.

 

[Ducky]

Re: Survivor? We Call It Camping - Canadian Thread #5

speed_cochrane said:

DaWacko said:
They close schools in Canada because of snow?

Not in my city. It was -50C here a couple of years ago and the school stayed open. Except the buses wouldn't start so they said "If you can get a ride..." :lol:

Here the coldest I remember has been -37c but it's always been around New Year so no school yet. There was "history's coldest day in Finland" in the late 90s if I remember right and in North it was -55c and there was story in the news. One guy was all happy and he had walked 2km to school :lol: It was all "you just need enough clothes"

I hate last winter when it went to some -28c and in central or southern Finland some parents didn't get kids go to school because "it's too cold"

See - I am having weather discussion while you try to discuss about elections. Yay me harassing the Canadians!

 

[DJRideout]

Re: Survivor? We Call It Camping - Canadian Thread #5

In Labrador, I had a friend teach in one of the fly in communities one year and she had to have her students frequently dig her front door out, because the snow drifts blew up that high. Other times, they had to close due extremely low temps. I think she mentioned something like after -55 or -60, its an automatic closure.

Now as for politics and elections, we just went to the polls ourselves on October 9th and the Conservatives nearly cleaned the board. Now I am not super political, but I do believe and stand behind our premier. It's the first time, in a very long time, that I feel he is fitting for the people of the province and the betterment of out future. The Conservative took 43 or 44 of 48 seats in the house.

Our schooling? That I am not completely sure about in THIS province. I do know that in the mid 90's I worked the referendum for interfaith schooling. For me, a few years before, would have to travel about 20km, 45 minutes bus ride to go to high school, when there was a school within 2 minutes of my place. Obviously, it would have been much more convenient to go closer to home, but because I wasn't RC, I wouldn't be able to graduate unless I did their religion, and nothing against RC's, but I didn't think that was fair of them to make that ruling, so I was stuck to the 45 minute travel.

 

[Jacquie]

Re: Survivor? We Call It Camping - Canadian Thread #5

DaWacko said:

See - I am having weather discussion while you try to discuss about elections. Yay me harassing the Canadians!

Ducky we need a break from politics and being harassed about the weather is fine with me

I've lived in the Toronto area all my life and the one thing I can't stand about our winters is the possibility of freezing rain. I out and out hate it. Just the thought of a possible slip is enough to keep me inside if I can. If we get freezing rain and have to go to work I volunteer my husband to drive even if he's not working that day. At least in snow you can't slip unless you get thawing and the freezing of the puddles but that is still easier than freezing rain.

Now speaking of politics I hear Saskatchewan is going to the polls in November. Any other provinces what to join in the election binge :lol: And no Stephan Dion we don't need a Federal Election. Stephen Harper is doing a good job thank you.

 

[allmaple]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

xfcanadian said:
Also i like that he ran the entire campaign without saying any negative things about the other canidates. I don't like american style politics, i think its great that he did that.

exactly, when are they ever going to learn how annoying those commercials are?? gah!

i think the reason i didnt like catholic school was because, although being raised in a catholic family, im pretty sure i was born atheist. i was probably that smart ass kid on noahs ark day that said 'but what about the dinosaurs?' :lol:

anyhoos, if my parents had kept us in that school system i wouldnt have been able to take instrumental music in grade 7 and 8 (because it wasnt offered) or in highschool (because i would have to take 4 religion courses). and then i wouldnt be in my university band and have met the greatest people ever. so in my experience, switching us out of catholic school was the greatest thing my parents ever did for us.

aaannnddd...now the cold is here but only 2 and half more months til i get to run away from it and lay on a beach! woohoo! thats right, i suffer through canadian winters by running away.

 

[LibertyBell]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

Awesome, where are you running? Florida?

Jacquie, in regards to the Feds, it really bothers me that they don't have set elections. It seems to me that the majority of the talk we hear from parliament is "we might call an election" and that's all people are thinking about, not any of the bills. In fact, people don't look at them just as the bills themselves, they go, "well, if there's an election then this won't pass...." They really need to standarize it.

There are very few politicans in history that I think I could say did a "good job", and Stephen Harper is not one of them, but neither is Dion. Honestly, I don't think anyone likes Dion, not even his party, they just needed a leader and that convention was dragging on and on. I'm really not that in tune with politics so I may be wrong here, but didn't Harper delay the start of parliament so that bill would lose momentum? That wasn't an accident.

While we're on the subject of politics, just to defuse any tension that is/may arise, does anyone watch those political satires on CBC (Air Farce, Rick Mercer, 22 Minutes)?

 

[DJRideout]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

Rick Mercer is my idol.....lol...not really, but he's from here and as funny as hell. I love watching 22 minutes also. some of the stuff they do, I can't believe they can get away with....lol! They are all from here too, unless they got some new people. I know colin..ummm....can't remember his last name, was on 22 minutes for a period of time, not from here, but fit in rather well with the rest of the cast.

I used to love when Rick Mercer went to the States asking silly questions to random people like: "what do you think of Canada legalizing liquid paper?" and something to do with Tim Horton and being Prime Minister......lmao. I would be in knots...

I got nothing wrong with our neigbours south of us, but its amusing

rick mercer talking with americans clip is poor in quality, but you get the idea

 

[Jacquie]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

LibertyBell I enjoy Air Farce. Don't know how well it will do this year with it being on live but time will tell. The cuts the CBC has made has made it nearly impossible for them to continue with the way the show has been run for years I've seen clips of the other 2 shows and they don't appeal to me.

On the Federal politics side yes I wish there were standardize dates for elections. Ontario has them both for the provincial and municipal elections and it does make live easier. I just don't want the US style of elections where the campaign last for the whole 4 years between elections :lol:

 

[allmaple]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

LibertyBell said:
Awesome, where are you running? Florida?

further south! two weeks in the jungles and beaches of costa rica! this trip has been two years in the making and i dont think ive ever been so excited about something in my life.

and rick mercer is the greatest canadian, like ever. he needs to be elected prime minister for life :lol: his show is so ridiculously funny i am always in stitches. when he came to my university he put his hand up a cow. now, you know someone is dedicated to their job when they do that :lol:

heres the video on his website:
http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/backissues.php?season=3

its the march 28th episode. the guy he talks to about 'snowflake' the cow is my pet nutrition prof also in his most current episode he had a really funny take on the mixed member proportional or whatever the heck it was called for the voting reform in ontario.

eta: i found my other favourite clip. in season 4, january 16 he goes to the university of alberta and hilarity ensues :lol:

 

[WhosLaughingNow]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

DJRideout said: I know colin..ummm....can't remember his last name, was on 22 minutes for a period of time, not from here, but fit in rather well with the rest of the cast.

Colin Mochrie from Who's line?

I used to love when Rick Mercer went to the States asking silly questions to random people like: "what do you think of Canada legalizing liquid paper?" and something to do with Tim Horton and being Prime Minister......lmao. I would be in knots...

I got nothing wrong with our neigbours south of us, but its amusing

"Congratulations Canada on becoming part of North America"

 

[DJRideout]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

Yes thats his name....thanks!

LOL, ahhhhh...definitely dedicated to his job when he is willing to do crazy stuff like that...and as for prime minister? Sure, why the hell not...I'd vote for him...lol!


"congratulations Prime Minister Tim Horton on getting your Double Double!" :lol:

 

[Jacquie]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

LibertyBell said:


Jacquie, in regards to the Feds, it really bothers me that they don't have set elections. It seems to me that the majority of the talk we hear from parliament is "we might call an election" and that's all people are thinking about, not any of the bills. In fact, people don't look at them just as the bills themselves, they go, "well, if there's an election then this won't pass...." They really need to standarize it.

I was discussing this topic with my hubby yesterday while crossing the Loblaws parking lot and he said that the next election is alreay set as long as this current government doesn't fall. So low and behold he found the changes to The Elections Canada Act.

Bill C-16 reads as follows

Subject to an earlier dissolution of Parliament, a general election must be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following a previous general election, with the first general election to be held on Monday, October 19, 2009

So unless one of the opposition parties does something for this current government to fail we will be going to the polls on October 19, 2009.

 

[xfcanadian]

Re: Canadian Thread #5

ah snow days. ive had two since being in university. one was more of an ice day and it was worse the day before, but i had a midterm so i didnt care they closed the school! it was funny the day it happened, to watch people walking across the grass that didnt know about the ice, then theyd hit the sidewalk and it was over yes, im evil and laugh at people who fall.

I think they deliberately keep the school open to see how many people will slip on the red bricks. Heck, i think they make bets on that when there isn't ice. I think it is impossible not to trip on those bricks. I joined the 'i trip on uneven red bricks' facebook club :lol:

another time they closed the school in the middle of the day, they got about 2 feet of snow in an hour, the wind was awful, and it was unsafe to drive or walk in that weather. i was mad that no one came to tell us the school was closed, so my whole class stood in front of the lab until someone went after the prof...

that day was bad for a lot of people, late buses stuck in the snow, bad traffic, being stuck on campus...

but having the school shut down 2 hours before my exam which i wasn't ready for? priceless Best. Snow. Day. Ever.

i think the reason i didnt like catholic school was because, although being raised in a catholic family, im pretty sure i was born atheist. i was probably that smart ass kid on noahs ark day that said 'but what about the dinosaurs?'

Me too! My parents sent me to sunday school for like 7 years...gah. They hated me, i asked too many questions. Even when i was really young, i wouldn't believe anything without some kind of logical reason. I kept asking about stuff i learned in science class...ahhh they hated me. :lol:

I used to love when Rick Mercer went to the States asking silly questions to random people like: "what do you think of Canada legalizing liquid paper?" and something to do with Tim Horton and being Prime Minister......lmao. I would be in knots...

I LOVED that special. It was so funny, and a little sad. Its not like he found all the uneducated americans, he went to several top universities. I don't know how Rick Mercer kept a straight face, he is amazing.

 

[Dragonfly]

My favorite part of that show was always the little kid who corrected his mother "But Canada doesn't have States! It has provinces" And the mom got so embarrased.

 

[DJRideout]

Re: RE: Survivor? We Call It Camping ~ Canadian Thread #5

DragonflyDreamer said:
My favorite part of that show was always the little kid who corrected his mother "But Canada doesn't have States! It has provinces" And the mom got so embarrased.

LOL....why does "are you smarter than a 5th grader" come to mind when I see that clip. heheh

I wonder how does he manage to keep a straight face too...:lol: I know I wouldn't even be able to get the question out without laughing.