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The Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-03-02, Page 4Fri 4 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, March 2, 2016 IijJjpfrT The Lucknow Sentinel PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O. Box 400, 619 Campbell Street Lucknow Ontario NOG 2H0 phone: 519-528-2822 fax: 519-528-3529 www.lucknowsentinel.com POSTMEDIA Alm , JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales john. bauman@sun media.ca JOYJURJENS Office Administrator lucknow.sentinel@sunmedia.ca LINDSAY THEODULE Media Sales Consultant I indsay.theodule@sunmedia.ca MARIE DAVID Group Advertising Director 519 376-2250 ext. 514301 or 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO SENTINEL CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. 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The Sentinel is available on microfilm at GODERICH LIBRARY, (from 1875) 52 Montreal Street Goderich ON N7A 1 M3 Goderichlibrary@huroncounty.ca KINCARDINE LIBRARY, (from 1875 to 1900 & 1935 to 1959) 727 Queen Street Kincardine ON N2Z 1Z9 The Lucknow Sentinel is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. www.lucknowsentinel.com Michael Den Tandt: The Liberals have faced some troubles but they still think they're on the side of angels Ac new govern- ment, that the fresh crop f Liberals running the show now might be a bit rat- tled. But you'd be incorrect in that assumption. If anything, sources familiar with the government's think- ing hinking say, senior Liberals are relieved the first leg of this ses- sion has gone as well as it has. Several of those closest to the Prime Minister are veterans of the Dalton McGuinty transi- tion in Ontario in 2003. That was hellish. This, by compari- son, has been easy. Their internal tracking as well as public opinion surveys continue to show the Trudeau Liberals enjoy a commanding lead in the mid-40s in percent- age support, with the Tories back in the high 20s and the New Democrats in the teens. And on the biggest policy issues, including those that have caused the government grief in question period, senior Liberals believe they're solidly in the sweet spot. They also think they're doing what's demonstrably best for the country, longer-term. Here's how that looks. The rationale for the new military mission in Iraq — though its unveiling was long delayed and though its substitution for a flight of CF -18 fighter jets was very poorly communicated — is finally beginning to gel. Last Thursday in the Senate, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan fielded questions from sena- tors. That afternoon at least, the Red Chamber earned its keep. The Senators' questions were lengthy and detailed. So were n 1 Column Michael Den Tandt Sajjan's answers. In essence, his point was this: Because of the ways in which the war against ISIL has evolved, the emerging gap in the U.S.-led coalition is on the ground. There is no shortage of fighter-bombers. There is a shortage of intelligence and ground -training resources. His goal, Sajjan argued, was to go where the conflict is headed, not where it was six months ago. Sajjan insists this new mission is a direct result of his consultations with allied commanders in the field, and reflects their wishes. Having heard his lengthy submission in the Senate, I'm inclined to believe him. This Iraq mission still poses significant political risks for the government - but it stems from the growing risk of casualties, and accusations the CF -18 pullout was an electoral feint followed by a deepening of Canada's involvement in the war. The Liberals were intent from the start on fielding a mission that would reassure the Americans that Canada remains a stalwart ally, Liberal sources say. They believe they've met that test. In a nutshell, they believe no other avenue has any hope of leading to a trans -national pipeline, given the reflexive opposition such projects now engender from environmental activists, as well as the Consti- tutional requirement to con- sult with aboriginal groups. On pipelines, the Prime Minister and Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr have been hammered for adopting a neutral posture, that of a so-called referee, as opposed to that of an advocate. Behind the scenes, sources say, the government is seized with the problem of getting a pipe- line built in a political climate that was poisoned by years of clumsy or non-existent com- munication from the previous Conservative government. The only way to avoid public -rela- tions disasters such as those that sidelined the Northern Gateway and Keystone XL pro- jects, this line of thinking goes, is for the government to estab- lish an impartial review pro- cess that can confer credibility. Here again, senior Liberals believe, they're on the side of the angels both in terms of public opinion and the sound- ness of their policy approach. In a nutshell, they believe no other avenue has any hope of leading to a trans -national pipeline, given the reflexive opposition such projects now engender from environmental activists, as well as the Consti- tutional requirement to con- sultwith aboriginal groups. The Conservatives slammed Finance Minister Bill Morneau last week for his concession his first budget deficit will be closer to $30 billion than the promised $10 billion. Momeau raised eyebrows with his insist- ence the Liberals' $125 -billion, ten-year infrastructure build is untouchable, ballooning defi- cit or not. Once more, senior Liberals believe they're on solid ground. With Canada's debt - to -GDP ratio just above 30 per cent now, less than half where it stood in the mid- 1990s, and interest rates at a cyclical low, there is some room to borrow. They also believe there is a real need to replace crumbling hard infra- structure, nationwide. They intend to sell their program, sources say, by stressing the "unsexiness" of the projects; crumbling sewage treatment plants and underpasses, not fitness centres. All well and good, as far as all that goes: One doesn't have to agree to appreciate the argu- ments. But why aren't they being heard in the Commons? The Conservatives are still sorting who they'll be in the post -Stephen Harper era. The NDP are no threat, at least for now. But therein lies the barb. Could any senior Tory have imagined four years ago that the Liberals in 2015 would take 184 seats, led by the shaggy -haired MP from Pap- ineau? These Grits are sub- limely confident they're on the right track - so much so that the cut and thrust in the Commons appears almost an afterthought. That seems a dangerous place to be, so early in what promises to be a very long four years. LUCKNOW NEWS Ruth Dobrensky A few issues have been brought to my attention this past week in regard to commu- nity concerns. First of all, I read in last week's paper about the fire in Dungannon and the difficulties in getting through to the Luc - know Fire Department. Last year a similar problem occurred here in Lucknow. What ended up happening was that I called and when they said, "911, what is your emer- gency?" I asked for the Luc - know Fire Department and was immediately transferred. Only then did I give my info to the 911 operator. Within minutes our fire department responded while my neighbour was still on the phone trying to get through. So, once again, if there is a fire, when you dial 911 ask right away for your local fire depart- ment by name, ie. Lucknow, or Ripley, or Goderich, or Kincar- dine, then when you get through to your local 911, give them your info, you will save time and possibly lives. Another concern in the com- munity is the number of dog owners who don't pick up after their dogs, thus leaving our sidewalks covered in dog poop. Pick up after your dogs, please! And remember, there is a fine for not cleaning up after your dogs. This coming Friday, March 4, is World Day of Prayer Day. This year's service will be at Luc - know United Church at 7 p.m. All are welcome to celebrate this year's theme of Cuba.