MOE, MNR putting chill on plans for

Lake Manitou Subdivision

by Jim Moodie

LAKE MANITOU-Concerns about water quality and trout habitat have stalled a cottage development at the north end of Lake Manitou, and could lead to a temporary freeze on land severances elsewhere around the lake.

"I'm not sure how serious the roadblock is, but it's certainly on hold," said landowner Doug McLay, who hopes to develop a 21-lot subdivision for seasonal residents on Green Bay near Red Lodge.

Mr. McLay applied in September to have his land rezoned from agricultural to shoreline development, and about six months later "I finally got a response," he said. "A study has been requested for Lake Manitou to see if it can support any more cottages, and this could take three years."

When an Official Plan amendment is required for rezoning, approval is needed from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), which consults with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), explained Elva Carter, secretary-treasurer of the Manitoulin Planning Board.

In this case, "the MNR and the MOE expressed a concern with water quality to the MMAH," she said. "They say it's premature (to okay the development) until further testing is done and they're satisfied the lake capacity is there."

Of specific concern is "dissolved oxygen in the water," said Ms. Carter, noting, "this requirement is higher on Lake Manitou because it is a lake-trout lake."

Scott Dingwall, district planner with the MNR, confirmed that his ministry, in collaboration with the MOE, had raised a red flag. "We have some preliminary water quality information that indicates Lake Manitou is near, or at, its capacity to absorb nutrients that development contributes to a waterbody," he said.

Lake Manitou supports a prized trout population, he noted, and "it's been used as an egg source for stocking other lakes," so protection of this resource is paramount.

"The context for this is a policy statement that instructs us that 'development and site alteration shall not be permitted in fish habitat except in accordance with provincial and federal requirements,'" said the MNR planner.

Lake-trout lakes "are particularly sensitive to nutrient loading," noted Mr. Dingwall, "and phosphorous is the key nutrient of concern here, as it can cause algae blooms." When photoplankton and other matter drift to the bottom of the lake-where lake trout lurk in the cold water-and begin to decompose, "you get deep-water oxygen depletion, which competes with lake trout needs."

The MNR, he said, "has scientifically established that seven parts per million is the required oxygen content for the normal metabolic needs and growth of trout, and if this is reduced, the fish are stressed." Sampling done in the last five years shows that the oxygen level in Lake Manitou "is slightly below seven parts per million."

Mr. Dingwall stressed that this is preliminary information, and more analysis needs to be carried out to "get a better data set, and establish with confidence" whether the lake can withstand more shoreline development. "There may be a risk, or there might not be," he said. "We need to err on the side of caution until we get a better picture."

Mr. McLay's application has been deferred in the meantime, and "we are considering a temporary freeze on applications for severances" elsewhere on the lake, said Mr. Dingwall, as it would be unfair to defer one application and approve others.

The file on Mr. McLay's application "has been closed administratively by the MMA," he said, but "once we have better information about the water quality, and if it says there is available capacity, he could reapply."

Mr. McLay didn't anticipate such a hiccup in his plans. "I thought I was in the clear, because Green Bay is a shallow, sand bay, and as far as I know there aren't any trout spawning beds," he said.

There are other cottage communities in this part of Manitou already-including one on either side of Mr. McLay's property-but it isn't wall-to-wall development. Nor is Mr. McLay convinced that cottagers are the main problem when it comes to nutrient levels in the lake.

"They say oxygen is being depleted in Lake Manitou, but they forget to mention the hundreds of cattle that are still watering in the lake," he said.

Rather than wait three years for the MNR and MOE to assess the lake's ability to support more development, Mr. McLay wonders if he can speed up the process by commissioning his own analysis. "At this point I may suggest that I hire my own consultants to study this," he said.

While a broader clampdown on Lake Manitou development could be in the offing until the water study is complete, Ms. Carter of the Planning Board said she has received no information to that effect as yet. "If someone applies for a lot, we still have the ability to do planning approvals," she indicated.

Vetting by the MMAH (with input from the other ministries) was required in this instance because "it wasn't zoned appropriately," said Ms. Carter, but "if the designation and zoning are in place, the planning board would take the application."

"We're dealing with one application here," she said. "I don't have anything that tells me I can't take an application from someone else. There's no freeze."

It's certainly put Mr. McLay's plans on ice, though, possibly for as long as three years. And that prospect gives him a distinct chill.

"I don't want to wait that long," he said. "I'm not getting any younger. And I'm still paying interest on the land."
 

Island municipalities file creative Build Canada applications

by Lindsay Kelly

MANITOULIN-Despite the challenge presented by a whirlwind submission process, three of Manitoulin's largest communities have put forward proposals for funds under two new infrastructure funding plans.

Talk of the infrastructure initiatives dominated the recent Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) conference held in Sudbury from May 6 to 8.

Late last month, the federal government announced it would be providing millions in infrastructure funding for "shovel-ready" projects through the Build Canada Fund second intake (BCF-2) and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) in an effort to jumpstart the economy. Municipalities had to meet certain requirements to qualify under each of the packages, and applications had to be submitted by May 1.

The government is promising an accelerated application-review process to get the projects under way as soon as possible.

The BCF, worth $8.8 billion, will be allocated over seven years and focus on projects with economic, environmental and social benefits, according to the fund's guidelines. Priority will be given to projects that improve the core National Highway System (NHS) routes, drinking water, wastewater services, public transit and green energy.

The Communities Component of the BCF caters to municipalities with populations under 100,000. According to the BCF website, more than 420 applications worth over $1 billion were received under the program.

Under the ISF, $4 billion has been set aside for projects that must be completed by March 31, 2011. The funding is based on all three tiers of government providing a third of the project costs, and municipalities can apply for up to three projects.

"Proponents will be required to attest that the projects would not have been built over the next two construction seasons without the federal and provincial funding," the website guidelines note.

On Manitoulin, Assiginack Township, the Northeast Town, and Central Manitoulin all put in bids for funding, despite the quick turnaround.

Assiginack Township did not apply for the BCF-2; however, funds it received through the first intake will go towards creating a recycling and composting depot at its landfill.

It is seeking funds for three projects totalling $2.5 million under the ISF.

The arena and community centre would get a facelift under the first project. While the structure is sound, its outer appearance could use an upgrade, so the outer surface would "basically be reclad," noted Assiginack clerk Alton Hobbs.

The second project falls under roads improvement, and Assiginack is seeking funds to upgrade four roads within the municipality. It would cover roads "within five kilometres of Manitowaning itself, and basically just bring them to standard," Mr. Hobbs explained.

The work would include hard surfacing, smoothing out bumps, and replacing culverts, he added.

For the final project, Assiginack is looking to renew its waterfront park by installing a new lighting system, in addition to improving accessibility at Burns Wharf, which would include a parking lot for transient visitors, Mr. Hobbs said.

Central Manitoulin Township is taking advantage of both funding packages, applying to each for various projects.

Under the BCF-2, "we applied to have some work done on the Providence Bay arena," clerk Ruth Frawley said.

The township successfully secured funding under the BCF's first intake, which it used to do renovations at the Mindemoya Arena. The township would like to see similar alterations made in Prov.

"The major things we would do there are putting in new boards and glass, a reflective low-energy ceiling, rehabilitated ramp access, and a new compressor plant," Ms. Frawley said.

The total estimated cost of the project is $262,400.

Under the ISF, Central applied for two projects, because "that was all we had time to get ready," the clerk explained.

The first project would include the continuation of the Yonge Street rehabilitation project, which is estimated to be completed over a two-year period at a cost of $1.541 million. It would include drainage, as "drainage is tied quite intimately to that," Ms. Frawley indicated. In addition, the road would be widened and sidewalks would be added.

The second project falls under local road infrastructure, which includes road rehabilitation and hard-topping, while other roads would be rebuilt-a more involved process. The project would affect 17.9 kilometres of road and have a price tag of $1.163 million.

The Northeast Town has applied to four projects, with one falling under the BCF-2, and three coming under the ISF.

Under the BCF-2, the town has applied for rehabilitation to the rec centre, to improve energy efficiency, which includes the replacement of the curling club chiller and compressor. This would come in at a cost of $410,900.

The town has a unique relationship with the curling club in that, if the project is approved, the club will be contributing a part of the one-third required by the municipality, "and the curling club will be working diligently to raise the money," noted town CAO Dave Williamson.

The Northeast Town is seeking money for water improvements, roads and the marina under the ICF.

It's applied for $500,000 to purchase water treatment plant filters to enhance the town's water services. In addition, the town wants to rehabilitate Indian Mountain Road at a cost of $223,750. Its final project is to rehabilitate Piers 4 and 5 at Spider Bay Marina, the total cost of which would be $660,100.

While the announcement of funding is generally positive news for municipalities, a major criticism is that it didn't give municipalities much turnaround time between the funds' announcement and the application deadline.

Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes argued that small municipalities don't have the necessary resources to get a proper plan into the government by the allotted time.

"The reality for rural communities is that they do not have the engineering and project management resources needed to submit plans by May 1," Ms. Hughes said in a press release. "I don't know who established the criteria, but they are too restrictive. The communities of Wawa, Elliot Lake, Chapleau, and Hearst do not have the same staff or expert resources as other cities such as Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver."

A suggestion by Energy and Infrastructure Minster George Smitherman that municipalities should borrow money in order to meet the requirements of the infrastructure funds drew further criticism.

When told that municipalities would have to go deep into debt to meet the requirements of the funds, Mr. Smitherman countered by noting that the government itself will reach a deficit of $14 billion this year, in part because of the commitments to municipal infrastructure projects, according to an article in the Sudbury Star.

"There are appropriate levels of debt," he is quoted as saying. "The real point is, if you're making investments in infrastructure that's going to last 20 or 30 or 40 years," borrowing is justified.

But Ms. Hughes' concern is one shared by Mr. Hobbs, who noted that "everybody was unhappy with the tight turnaround time," which sent municipal councils moving quickly to outline their priority projects.

To add to the confusion, no clear definition has been provided of what the government considers "construction-ready" or "shovel-ready," which is key if municipalities want to be successful. That was exacerbated by a complicated application process.

"There is definitely some local frustration on how to make the application," Mr. Hobbs said.

Loosely, a shovel-ready project must be largely ready to go ahead with construction if approved, but that requires a cost of consultation with engineers, which means that municipalities must have the money up front, which is in addition to the third they must have if the project is approved, the clerk added. Councils must then also play with their budgets which, in many cases, have already been approved by now.

"There's no guarantee that you'll get the money," Mr. Hobbs said. "It's not that we don't appreciate the possibility of funding, but it would have been nice to have a little more lead time."

Getting their applications in on time was a challenge for Central Manitoulin as well. Ms. Frawley said the township "scrambled" to get it in on time, noting that they only applied for two projects under the ISF package because they ran out of time.

She praised the application process, however, for being was less complicated than anticipated.

"The ISF application was very straightforward and easy to do," she said, although she conceded that the township has "dealt with a lot of applications," which streamlined the process for them.

That includes the process for the BCF application, which she said was 10 pages long, but very similar to the one the township filled out for the first intake.

Although the turnaround was tight, municipalities did know ahead of time that a funding announcement was likely and that the town would have to make a commitment of resources for priority projects, Mr. Williamson said. Council initially identified seven projects and then narrowed it down to four for submission.

He noted that the high number of submissions will make the process "very competitive for funding;" however, he feels the vague submission outlines may have been helpful, as "they were broad enough to enable us to put in a variety of projects."

Now that the applications have all been received, the municipalities must wait for confirmation of funding. Minister Smitherman did not indicate when municipalities will hear back about their submissions, but suggested the government is seeking to "do our darnedest to turn around these decisions very, very rapidly," according to the Star.
 

Islanders jr. team aiming for larger, district-oriented board

by Jim Moodie

LITTLE CURRENT-To keep the Good Ship Islanders afloat, it's going to take a lot more hands on deck.

That's the message that coach Reggie Leach and GM Larry Roy are trying to get out in advance of the club's annual general meeting, slated for May 26 at the Little Current-Howland Rec Centre.

At present, the franchise is facing a double whammy of dwindling coffers and an equally depleted board. The two are connected, and both need bolstering for the team to remain viable.

"We're in a bit of financial trouble right now, and if we're going to survive we need more directors and help," said Mr. Roy. "Hopefully people will stand behind the Islanders. If not, there won't be junior hockey here anymore."

At present, "we only have two active members on our board," noted the GM. That's down from the five who agreed to serve as directors last April.

Mr. Roy's hope, shared by Mr. Leach, is not only to fill out the existing holes on the executive; they also want more members for a bigger board and broader geographical representation.

"We'd like to get one director out of every Island community for a 12-member board," said Mr. Roy. "The more we have, the more we can do within each community."

If there was a director based in each of Manitoulin's main centres-Mindemoya, M'Chigeeng, Gore Bay, Manitowaning, and so on-they, in turn, could coordinate a group of volunteers in these locales, said the GM. And if each community held one fundraiser per month for the junior A team, this would generate enough financial support, combined with gate receipts, to keep the franchise going.

"We have to make the Islanders an Island team," he said. "One community can't carry the load."

While the Islanders play out of Little Current, with occasional visits to Wikwemikong, the concept of the organization is to provide an opportunity for youth from across Manitoulin to play at the junior level, stressed the GM.

"People started this for a reason, which was to provide a place for our own kids to play hockey," he said. "There's lots of kids coming up who are playing AA and AAA off the Island right now. This way they don't have to leave home to play junior hockey."

This past year, the Islanders utilized such local prospects as Patrick Shaw of Mindemoya, Zach Whalen of Kagawong, and Little Current's Justin Lockeyer on a call-up basis, Mr. Roy noted, and all three affiliate players would be welcome to join the Isles this year.

Meanwhile, a younger crew of talented skaters, including Michael Laidley and Steven Green, both of Little Current, are coming up through the ranks, and could be shoo-ins to make the squad when they reach junior age. "These kids come to every game, and it gives them a bit of hope," said Mr. Roy.

Both Mr. Roy and Mr. Leach are committed to returning this season to run the organization-which will remain based, as usual, in Little Current, but play a handful of games outside of its home rink-and have already been scouting players for the 2009/'10 edition of the Isles.

"We're getting the balls rolling," said Mr. Roy. "But we need a lot of people standing behind us."

The AGM will be at 7:30 pm on May 26, likely in the curling club at the rec centre, said Mr. Roy, who is counting on a strong turnout of supporters.

"Hopefully we'll have lots of people come out and more will step forward," he said. "We can't survive with what we have now."
 

Pontiac descendant pleased GM_dropping namesake brand

by Jim Moodie

WIKWEMIKONG-The phasing out of GM's Pontiac line doesn't faze Wikwemikong's Angus Pontiac, whose people predate-and will outlive-this vehicular namesake.

"It wasn't until the 1920s that the Pontiac car came into being," the 88-year-old veteran noted. "My name goes back to the 1700s."

Mr. Pontiac was actually christened Angus Bondy, but learned later from someone in the community that this surname was a corruption of the original. "This old man here came and told me, 'Your name is not Bondy. Your people are Pontiacs,'" he related.

He believes that a Wiky ancestor went by Bondiac, a version of Pontiac, and this became shortened and Anglicized to Bondy. There are other Bondys in Wiky to this day, presumably all Pontiacs as well, but "I'm the only one here in Wiky that follows the original name," said Angus.

He started going by the traditional patronymic in the mid-1980s, and later had this ancestry confirmed while travelling to powwows south of the border. "I finally found papers in Michigan, so I knew then that I was a Pontiac," he said.

The Wiky Elder said his lineage can be traced back to the legendary Chief Pontiac, an Odawa leader who, along with 300 followers, laid siege to Fort Detroit in 1763.

It was from this famous figure that the name of the car derived. It was first applied to a vehicle in 1906, by Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works, which subsequently became part of GM's Oakland Motor Company, based in Pontiac, Michigan. Pontiac, as a GM line, was officially launched in 1926.

Mr. Pontiac said he was initially tickled by the idea that there was a popular style of vehicle that carried his name, and naturally decided he should have one himself. "I was kind of proud," he said. "I bought a Pontiac car in 1986."

This feeling didn't last long, however, turning instead to self-consciousness and shame. "I went into the Wiky powwow one time and there was an MC up from Cape Croker who said, 'Here comes Pontiac driving his big Pontiac,'" the Elder related. "I didn't like that, so I bought a Dodge. Now I have a truck named Sierra. It's a good truck."

Mr. Pontiac doesn't actually drive anymore, as he's 88 and not as spry as he once was, but he still gets around on a scooter, and often gets someone to drive his truck for him (with the scooter loaded in back) so he can attend powwows and other events off the Island.

On one of these trips, several years back, he encountered a town in Quebec that bears the Pontiac name. "I was down in Ottawa for a powwow and someone told me there was a Pontiac village," he said. "I tried to see the mayor there, but he was on his lunch hour. I was going to ask him, 'How come your place is named Pontiac?'"

To Mr. Pontiac, it would not make sense for the name to exist "that far east," as the Pontiac people were "more around the Great Lakes."

As a car brand, the name, along with its arrowhead logo-earlier Pontiac emblems featured the face of a Native chief, in profile, and there was even a Chieftain line of Pontiacs in the 1940s-have become etched into the popular consciousness, and many drivers are still nostalgic about the Bonnevilles and Firebirds they once owned, or fanatically protective of the models they still keep, under dust covers, in their garages.

In late April, though, GM announced that it would discontinue the brand, phasing out Pontiac by the end of 2010 as part of a restructuring plan to climb out of financial disarray.

Mr. Pontiac won't miss these eponymous cars, having concluded over the years that the automotive brand only serves to trivialize a proud name and conflate a historical figure with a commercial product.

"I'm kind of glad it's going away," he said. "Why do Canadians confuse this man with a car? I'm not confused."
 

Editorial

When we shop Manitoulin, we prosper together

"Shop Manitoulin...Prosper Together" is the catchphrase on the logo developed through an Expositor contest about 15 years ago and which is reproduced with this commentary.

And, during the nearly 40 years (39 and counting) that this particular publisher has been operating this old newspaper, this is probably the 45th or even 50th time, perhaps even more frequently than that, that this space has been dedicated to the message of shopping locally.

From our viewpoint, the emphasis on local shopping, keeping money within the community, isn't about keeping the merchant class among us alive and well.

The real benefit of doing as much business on Manitoulin as we possibly can means that these merchants remain in business and will provide paying jobs for many Manitoulin people.

In fact, the ratio is a direct and simple one: the more business a particular retailer or service provider is called on to provide to the community, the more staff they will require to get the job done efficiently.

In a place like Manitoulin Island, full-time (or even permanent part-time) jobs are difficult to come by and, in almost every case, they are very highly prized.

We constantly tell one another that Manitoulin is unique. And it is.

In fact, it's unique on a wide variety of fronts and, for the sake of this argument in favour of local shopping, the obvious must be stated: we are an Island, with a decent-sized (14,000, more or less) population.

The relationship among all of these Manitoulin facts is that our particular local economy stands as good a chance of being as self-sustaining as any rural region in Canada. In fact, our economy stands a better chance than most rural areas of surviving the episodic downturns of the economy, just like the one we're presently experiencing.

Take a look at a map of Manitoulin. In fact, even a drawing will suffice. There's one road off the Island, across the swing bridge. The rest of the place is surrounded by Lake Huron and the North Channel.

We have a population which, while not huge, is still large enough to produce a critical economic mass that, when translated into the purchase of retail and service commodities, is certainly sufficient to support the businesses that presently exist in our various communities-and more besides, for the entrepreneurs among us will provide the supply to match any increase in demand.

These retailers and service providers are important players in the Manitoulin mix because not only do they provide the convenience of access to needed products close to home, they also provide jobs, income, and financial stability for your neighbour's daughter, your cousin's husband, yourself.

In turn, this means that these people, and yourself, don't have to leave Manitoulin in order to support themselves/yourself.

They/you can put down roots here, buy a home and ensure that there are enough children to keep our schools stable and healthy-and to employ more teachers, custodians and other school-related staff.

The Manitoulin Trade Fair a week and a half ago was all about showcasing Manitoulin businesses and the products they sell, just as The Expositor booth, with our collection of photos of Island businesspeople and people who work at businesses from Meldrum Bay to Wikwemikong, South Baymouth to M'Chigeeng, Little Current to Mindemoya was a reminder of the fact that these employees are people you know, and it is by grace of your patronage of their places of employment that they have jobs, and so were in a position to smile for the camera at their various workplaces.

We have to buy groceries, shoes, work pants, and cars anyway.

Why not buy them on Manitoulin so we can ride out the current recession with as many (or even more) jobs when it's over as when it began?

We can, and the choice is clearly up to each of us, as individual citizens of this unique community, to make.

Letters to the Editor

Transportation remains a challenge for Little Current seniors

A small bus would help elderly get around more easily

To the Expositor:

I'm writing this letter to you regarding transportation for seniors in Little Current. It has made me so sick-when I get ready to go somewhere I can't go. I'm not the only one.

I'm asking you to regard this as a serious problem. There are no taxis in town, and there is only one driver who goes to Sudbury; when he comes home it's too late to go any place.

They say there are more elderly people in Little Current than anyplace else and it's ridiculous to leave it like this.

So I'm asking if the town can't possibly get some service. I'm hoping you can do something about it. Why can't our town get a little bus that would carry senior people if they want to go some place?

Please regard this as a serious matter.

Ruth Dunlop

Little Current

Carol Hughes praised for challenging Employment Insurance Act

Her private member's bill deserves constituents' support

To the Expositor:

It has always been my belief when an individual is doing a good job for all Ontario workers it's important to comment on it.

The person I am referring to is the MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, Carol Hughes. At the present time MP Hughes is hard at work in Ottawa, focussing on the concerns all Ontario workers have with the current Employment Insurance (EI) Act.

Even though workers and their employers throughout Canada have provided our federal government, through their paycheques and company payroll, a whopping $57-billion surplus to provide EI benefits when they lose their jobs, the unfortunate reality is that present policies in the EI Act only allow 42 percent of the applicants to receive benefits due to the "hours system" format.

I suggest we all climb aboard our MP's wagon on this EI program and support the private member's EI bills she has before parliament.

I am sure if you contact her office, MP Hughes and her staff will be happy to provide information on this shameful sham.

Several prominent newspapers have written editorials supporting positive changes for workers in the EI Act; perhaps the Manitoulin Expositor might consider this suggestion.

Garry Gray

Mindemoya

Ignatieff's much ballyhooed anointment merely a news item

Selection of new leader like deja vu

To the Expositor:

In last week's edition of your paper, William R. Ritching of Little Current took umbrage with the Expositor's editorial of April 29 regarding Michael Ignatieff. He suggested that the Liberal Party love-in that unfolded recently in Vancouver was not a leadership convention but rather a "delegate convention to discuss policy."

I suppose I could argue that one out of both sides of my mouth in a crunch. What is certain is that Michael Ignatieff, now having officially assumed the leadership of the Liberal Party, is so 'old hat' at this point that it gives a whole new meaning to the term 'dZj^ vu.'

In fact, the convention in Vancouver that featured Ignatieff in the starring role reminds me of an old story about the Grand Duke, Charles De Talleyrand-Perigord ("Talleyrand"), who graced the political scene in France about 200 years ago.

For those of you who slept through history class back in high school, Talleyrand was a famous foreign minister who once worked for Napoleon. He was the one who gave the emperor such indispensable advice on foreign policy as, "Sire, you can do anything with a bayonet-except sit on it." Whatever that was supposed to mean.

Talleyrand was a real rascal at times. The fact that he was of royal descent, and yet was employed by a military dictatorship that had replaced the Bourbon monarchy, did not deter him in the least. You see, like the Liberal Party here in Canada today, the Duke was not famous for being bound by many moral scruples.

When Napoleon was unceremoniously defeated one rainy Sunday in a field of mud south of Brussels-near a one-horse town called Waterloo-Talleyrand was suddenly blessed with an epiphany. Somehow he instantly realized the incontrovertible superiority of a monarchical form of government. And in a 'switcheroo' that would have made Belinda Stronach look like a choirgirl, the Duke changed political hats faster than you could kiss a duck. He immediately hired on to work for the kings of the restored Bourbon monarchy-in the role of foreign minister no less.

But poor Talleyrand: his fame was destined to be mostly of the posthumous sort. In his own day-much like Scotland's national poet Robby Burns before him-he was known by the locals more for his drinking, wenching, and womanizing. It seemed to them that only when he was not tending to affairs of a more intimate nature, did the good Duke occasionally tend to affairs of state.

On a fine afternoon in the spring of 1821, while he was entertaining one of his favourite mistresses, a young messenger from the foreign office came bursting into the room all out of breath, to announce the death of Napoleon. The poor wretch who once conquered most of Europe had died forlornly, far away on some Godforsaken island in the South Atlantic, long since exiled there for imprisonment.

Talleyrand was shocked, and momentarily taken aback, upon hearing about the death of his former boss. However, he quickly collected himself. The Duke then lifted his right arm into the air, pointed his finger at the ceiling, and proclaimed: "At this point in time, the death of Napoleon is not an event. It is merely a news item."

I think Talleyrand's proclamation would apply equally as well to Michael Ignatieff's much ballyhooed official anointment in Vancouver-it's just a news item.

The Liberal Party has a "new" leader? Tweedledum, Tweedledee.

Brad Middleton

Evansville