# The CanaDoper Café (2012 edition of The great, ongoing Canadian current events and politics thread.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014 "2012-01-01T03:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 97
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1922 "2012-10-12T18:31:42Z")
Yes, yes I believe that was it. 🙂 So, the Federal government wants to [limit how much equity homeowners can borrow against their houses,](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/lenders-opposed-crackdown-on-home-equity-borrowing/article4607656/) and lending institutions don’t like it. My rule of thumb is if the banks like it, it’s bad for me, and vice versa, so I guess this is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1923 "2012-10-13T09:59:04Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > For more of my ranting, please the consult [this](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1365218-nhl-lockout-why-its-so-hard-to-be-a-canadian-sports-fan). 🙂 That’s an interesting and thoughtful item, **Jimbo**. Thanks for the link! I agree that when this labour action is over, Canadians will watch, and attend, hockey games as if nothing ever happened (though perhaps with a little grumbling over why the whole mess occurred). I think what bothers me is the addiction many Canadians have towards hockey, which in my view, acts to the detriment of sports fans, as opposed to hockey fans. Honestly, I remember the Edmonton sports bar where, when the Oilers were playing, every single TV had to be showing the Oilers game. No exceptions–out of perhaps 36 televisions, not even one could show, say, an NFL playoff game. Nope, the Oilers were on (in a regular season game yet), so NFL playoffs were not shown. Similarly, locally, a hockey game will always be on the big screens at the local sports bar. Nashville at Dallas in October? Big screen. The Chicago Cubs playing in the World Series? Small screen, around the corner near the men’s room. I like hockey, but damn! Does every single hockey game that occurs between late-September and mid-June need to be broadcast? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1924 "2012-10-14T18:52:07Z")
I’m curious if any of my fellow Canucks have seen the film ‘Argo’. I haven’t, and I’ll probably wait until it’s available by some other means. I’m desperately trying not to judge it without seeing it, but everything I’ve heard makes it sound like I’m going to be yelling at the screen “Listen, it wasn’t that way!” Has anyone who knows the historical accounts of the Canadian Caper seen the film? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1925 "2012-10-14T20:10:11Z")
I haven’t seen the film, but from what I’ve read about its plot, it is factually inaccurate. As reviewer Brian D. Johnson said in [Maclean’s](http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/12/ben-affleck-rewrites-history/#more-292541) on September 12, 2012, > [@](#): > > The movie rewrites history at Canada’s expense, making Hollywood and the CIA the saga’s heroic saviours while [Canada’s ambassador to Iran, Ken] Taylor is demoted to a kindly concierge. Mendez did indeed work with Hollywood to forge an elaborate cover for the Canadian Embassy’s clandestine house guests. But Affleck’s movie underplays Taylor’s role. And Taylor is not amused. > > . . . > > Affleck was unavailable to comment on Taylor’s concerns at press time, but at a TIFF press conference after the premiere he discussed the film’s veracity. “Because we say it’s based on a true story, rather than this is a true story,” he said, “we’re allowed to take some dramatic licence. There’s a spirit of truth.” > > . . . > > As for Argo, it hits theatres Oct. 12, with the tagline: “The mission was real. The movie was fake.” But as the spirit of Hollywood fakery comes full circle, the line could refer to Affleck’s film. I may see the film eventually, but after reading this review, I won’t be hurrying to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1926 "2012-10-14T20:11:58Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Has anyone who knows the historical accounts of the Canadian Caper seen the film? Dunno if it’s playing yet, but I’ll avoid it. It sounds worse than than that fantasmagorical Second World War turkey in which Americans capture the German sub and Enigma machine. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1927 "2012-10-14T20:22:40Z")
Ken Taylor on the film (from the [Toronto Star](http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1267937--argo-film-gives-former-canadian-ambassador-ken-taylor-chance-to-set-the-record-straight) of October 7, 2012): > [@Ken Taylor](#): > > “The movie’s fun, it’s thrilling, it’s pertinent, it’s timely,” he said. “But look, Canada was not merely standing around watching events take place. The CIA was a junior partner.” ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1928 "2012-10-14T20:27:33Z")
I enjoyed [today’s article](http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/1270655--argo-the-cia-s-side-of-the-story) in the Toronto Star, interviewing Antonio (Tony) Mendez, the CIA agent played by Ben Affleck. > [@](#): > > “Canada was still the real hero in the whole thing,” said Mendez over lunch back in September, before Argo had ever screened to the public. He gives particular credit to former Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor. “Ken took a huge risk and he handled it wonderfully. He got the blame and he got the glory.” In my humble opinion, Ken Taylor did not harbour those six Americans for the fame or the glory - he did it because it was the right thing to do. Our mutual history is filled with moments like that, of Americans coming to the aid of Canadians, and Canadians coming to the aid of Americans. That’s the part I want to see celebrated, and it grates when a legit hero like Ken Taylor gets written out of the story… ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1929 "2012-10-14T20:52:27Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > In my humble opinion, Ken Taylor did not harbour those six Americans for the fame or the glory - he did it because it was the right thing to do. As one who lived through the time that the events took place, that’s how I recall things–Taylor and his staff said that they did what they did because it was the right thing to do. I recall a joke from the time. I cannot remember who came up with it (though it may have been from a Wayne and Shuster skit), but the joke went something like this: Canadian official: And to pass as Canadian, you can’t smoke your regular brands. No Marlboros, Winstons, Camels, or any American brand. You’ll have to smoke Export A, Du Maurier, Craven A, Matinee… American: Boy, you Canadians really take that “eh” thing seriously! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1930 "2012-10-14T21:44:16Z")
Lived through it too. I lived in a boarder city, Sarnia, Ontario at the time. Well, you wouldn’t believe how thankful and gracious people and companies were. It was Canada’s 15 minutes of fame. We were rock stars. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1931 "2012-10-15T04:53:56Z")
History’s written by those with the biggest movie budgets. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1932 "2012-10-15T06:05:58Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I enjoyed [today’s article](http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/1270655--argo-the-cia-s-side-of-the-story) in the Toronto Star, interviewing Antonio (Tony) Mendez, the CIA agent played by Ben Affleck. I saw Tony Mendez’s book _Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History_, when I was in Chapters today. I bought a copy. I’ll let you know how historically accurate (based on my memory) I find it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1933 "2012-10-15T14:06:43Z")
I lived through that time and it was one of my proudest moments as a Canadian. I’ll hold off watching it, because I don’t want to pollute my memory. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1934 "2012-10-15T21:24:21Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > They did make lousy vehicles for years, but I think they have improved a lot. I’ve been really pleased with the Chevy I’ve owned for the last 12 years, for example. But to each their own, of course. Plus, what qualifies as a domestic vehicle anymore? Is it the head office location, plant of manufacture, where the parts were made? My Ford Focus was made in Mexico, my japanese Subaru was made in Indiana, or get a VW made in Kentucky… Congrats on the car purchase,mnemosyne, I like the new Elantras and I think you’ll get many happy years out of it. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1935 "2012-10-15T21:34:55Z")
Hasn’t that always been the way with Canadian History, though? We always seem to end up on pg.2 somehow. I think we still have a lot to learn as a nation about trumpeting our achievements, without somehow turning it into a full blown production. Laura Secord kicks Paul Revere’s butt as far as what she endured and accomplished but you would never know it. Adam Dollard makes The Alamo look like a tea party, but only a history geek would even know who he was or what he did. It really is a shame in a way that we can’t do a little more self-aggrandizing but I guess then we would be virtually indistinguishable from our cousins South. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1936 "2012-10-15T23:08:50Z")
I didn’t see that coming - [Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty resigns.](http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-premier-dalton-mcguinty-resigns/article4614086/?service=mobile) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1937 "2012-10-15T23:13:09Z")
Nobody did. My guess is something’s about to bust into the open about the power plant scandal, or he’s hoping that by resigning, it won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1938 "2012-10-16T00:50:01Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Nobody did. > > My guess is something’s about to bust into the open about the power plant scandal, or he’s hoping that by resigning, it won’t. There’s been a lot of chatter about documents regarding the power plant closure that should have been provided to Queen’s Park, but weren’t provided and are only now coming out. It doesn’t look good. I don’t know what confidence issues are forthcoming, but the writing is on the wall that the Liberals are going to lose the next confidence vote. Better to exit as a winner than a loser I suppose. Federally the Liberals aren’t a terrible party and I have voted for them on occasion. I have never voted provincially for the Liberals and think they have done a terrible job in just about every portfolio over the last 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1939 "2012-10-16T01:23:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Nobody did. > > My guess is something’s about to bust into the open about the power plant scandal, or he’s hoping that by resigning, it won’t. I’ve not been paying attention. What’s the power plant scandal about? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1940 "2012-10-16T01:54:20Z")
During election week, or thereabouts this year, under voter pressure, the Liberals decided to cancel the construction of a natural gas-fired electricity plant in Oakville. The plant was all ready under construction. The initial cancellation costs were 20 something million, and than later came in at a few hundred million, and have been escalating ever since, especially due to documents not provided to Queen’s Park. I don’t have all the details but there’s enough information here to Google the deal. We, the Ontario taxpayers, are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars, so that the Liberals could hang onto one riding. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1941 "2012-10-16T02:23:35Z")
ouch. thanks for the update. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014.md?page=96) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014.md?page=98)