As old timers on rctn will know, I am strongly in favor of various levels of Canadian government taking an active role in discouraging our citizens from smoking. I know Dianne has some trouble with this approach, but that is what life is all about. Anyway, some 14 years ago, our Federal Government fired the first salvo in declaring a policy of taking action to discourage Canadians from smoking. I feel that it is quite wrong that our Ministry of External Affairs allows Canadian diplomats, when serving abroad, to purchase duty free tobacco products. I have been round this mulberry bush many times, and to date have got nowhere. Last November, after we had a general election, and I got a new member parliament, David McGuinty, I went to see him and briefed him on my thoughts. He was quite receptive, and had his own ideas as to how to proceed. Some weeks ago, I had a letter from him, from which it was clear that his ideas were going nowhere, and he passed me on the old wornout mixture of falsehoods, half truths and general Blarney, that he got from External Affairs. I wrote back to him, telling him in words of one sylable precisely what I thought of this nonsense, and thought that would be the end of the matter. Surprise, surprise!!!!! I got an email back from one of his staff saying that he agreed with me. Now he has set up a meeting in his office in the West Block on Parliament Hill, with myself and two members of External Affairs. I hope to tell them precisely what I think of them, in front of someone, my MP, who if he agrees with me, and disagrees with the people from External, is in a position to do something. The meeting is set for this Wednesday afternoon, at 3pm. Maybe, apart from Dianne, people will wish me luck. Thanks for listening.
-- Jim Cripwell. From Canada. Land of the Key Bird. This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter, shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"