but it's in Ottawa and it surely shouldn't be too hard, by now, to find via a Google search

Ain't the Internet grand?

F...sakes. You've got to be kidding me. This entire episode, (from insensitive comment to cabinet minister campaigning on the public dime to the fact that none of this has anything to do with setting good public policy) is exactly why most Canadians believe that people involved in politics are slimy.

OK, call me a right royal pain in the proverbial, but how do you know that Min. Kenney is "campaigning on the public dime"?

See, I don't care whether you think the award is a silly idea, or even that bringing a group of Conservatives to that restaurant could be interpreted as pandering. That would be your opinion based on your interpretation of the facts.

But to state categorically as fact that the bill will be picked up by the taxpayer is misinformation. Do you know that for a fact? If so, how?

Fair point. I inferred that from a couple of clues in the article, but it isn't actually explicit. If this publicity stunt is being put on by the Conservative Party then it's merely idiotic rather than idiocy that I'm a paying for.

I'm pretty sure the "minister's award" is being developed, designed and produced by public servants at the ministers insistance and on the public dime. His dinner, as a result, as well as his entourage's, will be picked up as a gov't expense.

Unless he's changing it to a party award, this stunt is being paid for by you and me.

"I'm pretty sure ..." does not equal "I know for a fact ..."

I know for a fact that you will continue to make unfounded allegations.

However, I'm pretty sure you'll retract those unfounded allegations, because you seek the unvarnished truth in an non-partisan kind of way, right?

Well, the "Minister's Award" has to be issued by the minister's office, right? The CPC can't co-opt the trappings of gov't for itself.
That said, a new Minister's Award would be business of government, and as such would be developed and produced by the public service (and possibly people it contracts), and the people travelling with the minister to the event would have their costs covered by the gov't, because they are incurring those costs on gov't business.

So either the gov't is paying for this farce, or the CPC is improperly issuing counterfiet Minister's Awards. Which one do you prefer?

FWIW, anyone who knows anyone in the ps who has to deal with ministers' offices can probably tell of similar stories at other depts (I know I can) -- and for all I know at

So I'm not retracting anything.

- Two Hats

PS. I've been to the restaurant in question. No offence to the management of the establishment, but of all the dozen or so restaurants on the street that I've been to, it is least deserving of a "culinary award", regardless of what other contributions it may have been/be making to life in the city. -TH

Is anyone else amazed at how Jason Kenney has managed to style himself as the man of the people for ethnic Canadians?

Dave, why are you being so easy on Kinsella in your reporting on this issue? The issue in part is has Kinsella ever in all his years used a similar comment in poor taste to label someone a racist? Think back to when he tried to call some sitting MPs in the Liberal Party racist... Why this is newsworthy is because of Kinsella's double standard here, one for himself and another for those he attacks with his gutter politics... You should approach this story with more care...

I agree with Bob. Akin, your latest on Canada.com and the National Post seem to be far too easy on Kinsella.

If you watched his video on YouTube, he not only slanders an Ottawa business and insults Chinese Canadians, but he also got in a nice display of male chauvinism.

I think Kinsella should be grilled and we can all tuck into some BBQ Kinsella.

Well, then, go grill him. That's not my job. I think I've been pretty straight up reporting on this one. He said. She said. He apologized. Restaurant wins award.

And another thing -- I know I'm letting anonymous commenters post here -- but I, Kinsella, Alice Wong, and Alex Yuan all put their names on they said or wrote too. You want to be taken seriously? Put your name on it.

Why David, so that the infamously litigious Kinsella can sue me too? If someone doesn't run for public office or work in politics and isn't paid for their reporting of the he said she said, why would they need to post their name? I'm just an average Canadian that isn't affiliated with any political party and I'm not in anyway a public figure. So if my username was Joe Beavertail, would that matter?

Um, I missed the part where Kinsella apologizes?

Sorry David...

I never post anonymously and it is one of my greatest pet peaves about the world wide web. I just clicked 'post' before I entered my info...

Here is what I wrote:

Is anyone else amazed at how Jason Kenney has managed to style himself as the man of the people for ethnic Canadians?

Akin, your latest on Canada.com and the National Post seem to be far too easy on Kinsella.

It's consistent with how he's handled these types of outrageous! scandals in the past. I know, he did one on my outrageous! scandal. If anything David is guilty of once again not seeking input from the subject of the story.

If anything David is guilty of once again not seeking input from the subject of the story.

Cats?