How quickly things can change.
A week ago in this space we were bemoaning the prospects of another federal election - the second one in a little over a year.
We urged the politicians to start acting like adults instead of children and work together for the betterment of the country. Well it appears that message sunk in because a fall election has been averted - at least for now thanks to the Bloc Quebecois and the New Democrats.
This Friday was the first chance the Conservative government could have toppled during a confidence vote. Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe said this week that he would support Prime Minister Stephen Harper because the vote Friday puts in place regulations and legislation for the home-renovation tax credit, drought relief and minor reductions in country-wide truck traffic tariffs -all things Duceppe has been fighting for and are measures he feels will be popular with Quebecers.
Jack Layton and the New Democrats are also likely to support the vote after the Conservatives introduced some EI benefits - again, a proposal that Layton has been urging Harper to do.
This support from the two parties is exactly the kind of things many Canadians have been asking for - co-operation in Parliament. It's kind of ironic though that the Tories are going to be supported by "socialists and separatists" the same thing that Harper accused the Liberals of earlier this month during a speech to supporters in Ontario, but we digress. There may be strange bedfellows making deals and throwing around their support, but at least Parliament appears to be on track - for now. Here's hoping that the co-operation will continue and the Liberals will get on board too.
Embracing Hollywood
Zac Efron sightings have been plentiful. He was mobbed at Sunnycrest Mall, had teen girls screaming for autographs, and oh yeah, there was a little movie shooting going on too.
The cast and crew of The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud are nearing the end of their shoot in Gibsons. It's been a positive experience for mostly all involved. The community has been respectful allowing the crew to do their work and the crew has been appreciative of the co-operation. While the spin-offs from the Hollywood production are not know yet, once the movie hits the silver screen and Gibsons is in the spotlight, the tourism boom could be substantial. This community needs to embrace more movie and television productions like they did this one. The economic benefits are surely enough reason to do so.
