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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2007 7THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 20076 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It I must admit that I didnt watch the entire farce that was the par- liamentary committees inquest involving Karlheinz Schreiber last week. I did, however, watch and read enough to come to the opinion that Schreiber is conducting a massive con on Parliament and the Canadian people as a whole. From the onset Schreiber made it known that he wouldnt answer questions until his own future was determined. Schreiber was due to be extradited back to Germany last Sat- urday where German authorities plan to put him on trial for bribery among other charges. Hes been fighting extradition for several years. Schreiber is being compelled to testify by a little used speakers war- rant. In fact the last time a speakers warrant was issued was in 1913. By the time Schreiber finishes making the members of the Parliamentary Ethics Committee look like complete fools, I suggest it will be another 94 years before this archaic legal process will be dusted off again. The law, especially Canadian law, is a complicated process. It was painful to watch MPs trying to craft questions which would lead them to their ultimate trophy: Brian Mul- roneys head. It was embarrassing the way Schreiber easily deflected their transparent questioning. Schreiber played the Ethics Com- mittee members like a trout. And, like a good fisherman, he dangled a bit of juicy bait. Out of the blue the $300,000 cash payment he allegedly gave to Brian Mulroney became $500,000. Why pay him in cash? The cash was available, answered Schreiber. I didnt hear any further questions regarding the origin of all this cash. Possibly the MPs were relying on the investigative prowess of CBCs the Fifth Estate for their background information. On the other hand, perhaps MPs just couldnt be bothered with that little detail. The whole episode dem- onstrated just how petty and partisan this committee is. I got the distinct impression that determining if any laws had been broken by the former PM was, at best, a background is- sue. What they really wanted was to nail Brian Mulroneys hide to the wall. A perfect example of Schreibers toying with the committee was the interplay between the witness and the Bloc MP. She asked why Sch- reiber had been so generous. With batting eyes Schreiber intimated that he might be generous with her if she asked for money. Im not sure, but doesnt that come close to attempt- ing to bribe a public official? Looking at the Ethics Commit- tee members perched around the committee table I was reminded of a flock of vultures roosting on a dead tree limb. I half expected one to say to the next one: patience my ass, Im going to kill something. Unfortunately, Schreiber was the only prey in sight and he was far too clever to be snared by these Perry Mason wannabes. The sooner the MPs decide to end this charade the better. Dont expect that to happen anytime soon. As long as there is TV time and a spotlight to hog, those folks will keep the organ grinder and monkey around. The only problem is that Schreiber has come across as the only one in that room qualified to be the organ grinder. In the end, an end that I trust will come soon, I expect Schreiber to be shipped back to Germany. In the meantime, expect to be titil- lated by innuendoes of wrongdoing by politicians and others in high places. Wrongdoings that Canadians generally are too quick to rush to judgment on. In the end, the questions of mal- feasance will be settled where they belong. Investigated by the police and guilt or innocence decided by the courts. This circus in Disneyland- by-the-Rideau is nothing more than a kangaroo court. The partisanship being demonstrated by the members of the Parliamentary Ethics Com- mission is unseemly. Canadians have a right to be judged by a jury of their peers. Trial by media is nothing more than an absolute wrong not worthy of Canadian Parliamentarians. * * * So Celine Dion cancelled a live concert in Halifax scheduled for next August. It seems the local papers and talk radio shows were fairly critical of the planned appearance. What I cant figure out is why the rest of the country could give a fiddlers fig about this issue. But they obviously do. Im not a big fan of Celine al- though I do enjoy some of her music. Obviously, Ms. Dion and her manager Rene Grandpere have the absolute right to schedule her concerts. I also believe that a planned concert in Quebec City the day be- fore the now cancelled Halifax gig wasnt the reason for the change. Concerts today travel with more than one caravan of trucks carrying stage dr. I doubt Ms. Dion is as thin-skinned as this incident suggests, the music world is as tough as it gets. So I doubt Ms. Dions sensibilities could be hurt by a newspaper columnist and a couple of radio talk shows. The only thing I can think of was that sales for the Halifax show were lagging so they pulled the plug. Ms. Dion certainly doesnt need the money. I think it was a mistake to blame the press for the cancellation. I dont think they expected the national at- tention it garnered. Next time Celine decides to visit the Maritimes they should add and advertise new songs to be included in her well-known repertoire. Bud the Spud and Is the by that builds the boat should do the trick. Much ado about nothing! TOYS FOR TOTS: Prosperity ONE donated gifts to the Salvation Armys 7th Annual Toys for Tots drive on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Back row left to right: Constable Jennifer Grosvenor, Halton Regional Police, Fran Fryters, Lorraine Vaughan, Pam Farrant, Barb Robertson, Sandy Churchmach, and John Barrett. Front left to right: Joanne Lewis and Zeny Yumul. - Submitted photo Name change Wonder why theres no olde in the name of what used to be the Olde Hide House anymore? Sim- ple. The olde has been dropped in favour of the Hide House which is now in three locations Acton, Toronto and Vaughan. One thing hasnt changed: its still worth the drive. Christ in Christmas The Acton Ministerial Association is again sponsoring the Keep Christ in Christmas campaign initiated by St. Joseph Council of the Knights of Columbus last year. Signs are available at churches and the mes- sage is again being posted on the billboard at the railway tracks on Mill St. Signs are already being posted at homes around Acton and in the rural areas. Two Georges Whoops! Last weeks New Tanner carried a photo and a cut line from the Seniors Dinner at the Legion showing Bandmaster George Elliott conducting Acton Citizen Band in a Christmas medley. Unfortunately, the cut line said it was George Hen- derson who was conducting. Our mistake. It didnt even look like George Henderson who, as far as we know, has never been a conductor. Mea culpa, mea culpa. Curling for Heart Word is out. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is having their annual Curl for Heart event at the Acton Curling Club on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Therell be two six-end games, a catered lunch, silent auction and door prize draws in addition to the curling. Every dollar goes towards research in the fight against heart disease. Books available Dave and Kelly Dills have pub- lished a limited number of the revised edition of Actons Early Days just in time for the Christmas season. Demand for the book last year ex- ceeded expectations and some were unable to acquire a book so the Dills decided to print another 100. The book is an unusual history of Acton following street patterns and houses which forged the identity of the community in the northwest corner of Halton County. The couple also have their Marching Down Mill Street, a history of Acton bands and Lest We Forget, the military history of Acton published by the Legion available. To get copies call the Dills at 519-853-0405 or email: daviddills29@sympatico.ca. Delivery service Having a problem with getting deliveries? Maybe the new delivery service serving the Rockwood and Acton areas may be able to fulfil your needs. Called Gophers Shopping and Delivering Service it is staffed by bondable staff members. Theyll do your grocery shopping and take care of other tasks such as picking up prescriptions or obtaining auto licence renewal stickers. Simply call Sharon at 519-856-2317 or email: sporterfield@sympatico.ca Deck the halls Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas and school concerts and other events are on top. McKenzie- Smith Bennett public school at 69 Acton Blvd., is staging a Holiday Family Craft and Concert Night on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Family Craft Time is from 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. while the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with the primary choir and the Grades 7&8 bands taking part. Generous donations Retired teachers just never re- tire. The Lydia Snow Branch of the Retired Teachers of North Halton have been donating books to all the elementary schools in this part of Halton over the last few weeks. A note from the Halton Elementary Teacher Librarians to The New Tanner expresses their gratitude for the gifts. These books will provide hours of reading pleasure for many students, the librarians note. Handels Messiah Love choral music and especially Handels Messiah? Guelph Cham- ber Choir with guest soloist and Music Viva Orchestra (on period instruments) will perform Handels great works at the River Run Centre in Guelph on December 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets can be obtained at River Run or from members of the Guelph Chamber Choir. Bazaar gifts Need some different Christmas gifts? You might be able to find them at a Christmas fundraising bazaar at 19 Turtle Lake Drive this Friday, Dec. 7. Over 15 vendors will be at the open house from 3-9 p.m. Proceeds go to the fight against breast cancer. Culprits caught Halton Police have finally appre- hended three 17-year-olds suspected of setting eleven dumpster fires in the Town of Milton, dating back to November 2006. Ten of the fires were at three elementary schools with Robert Baldwin the main tar- get, followed by W.I. Dick and St. Peters. Another was at the plaza at Woodward Ave. and Wilson Drive. The break came when a uniformed officer responded to a report of a fire in a dumpster and caught a 17- year-old male fleeing. Investigation led to the arrest of two other 17- year-olds. School Awards Night Halton District School Board held an awards night at Milton District High School on November 28 at 7 p.m. Among the awards given were Award of Merit to Jackie Fairthorne from McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School, Award of Merit to Robert Little Public School for their Gold level Ecoschool Certification, Award of Excellence to Nils Olav- Stockinger & Ryan Martin from Acton District High School and Award of Merit to Bev Bradgley of Brookeville Public School. The awards night is held yearly and recognizes many different as- pects of excellence throughout the school system.