Canada's top doctor singled out New Democrat leader Jack Layton yesterday for "hypocrisy" for undergoing hernia treatment at a private Toronto medical clinic.

But Brian Day, president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association, was quick to note Layton is in good company.

Former prime ministers Paul Martin, Jean Chretien and Joe Clark also have been treated at private medical clinics, Day told the annual meeting of the Canadian Science Writers' Association.

And he said union leader Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Autoworkers, proved a master at "queue jumping" when he got in for an MRI within 24 hours of injuring his leg.

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Guys getting killed is the NDP military policy. Layton et al get to make hay when the sun stops shining over some poor kid who was killed in doing his duty. That the Canadian military is stretched to limit in Afghanistan is not a secret. The Government is looking to put in more money to the effort:

The government is seeking Parliament's approval to spend nearly $1 billion to sustain Canada's military through the rest of this fiscal year, including hundreds of millions of dollars to support the mission in Afghanistan and to buy new equipment.

What is the NDP response? To hell with the soldiers:

NDP Treasury Board critic Paul Dewar said one concern is that it's not clear from the estimates how much of the funding for the Afghanistan mission is going toward redevelopment.

There is little that is more juvenille than faux offence. The big stories in the Globe and Mail today:

 1. Canada complains to White House about ad

Canadian Press

OTTAWA — The Canadian government has lodged a complaint with the Bush administration over a Republican election ad that belittles Canada as a global freeloader.

You can read the comments by the highly offended Canadians here. What a tribe.

2. MacKay's fresh denials escalate 'dog' uproar

Speaker reluctantly launches new probe as Liberals continue to demand apology

This is the heights of ridiculous. Clearly no-one watched the ad which is more a version of Talking to Americans than anything that is serious. Here is a link for those of you who want to actually watch it (via Instapundit). We run shows insulting Americans, our elected representatives call the Yanks to the dirt. Jack Layton has turned the name George Bush into both a full political argument and an insult of massive proportion. It is like the Monty Python Skit: I can think of nothing more insulting than Belgian.

Belinda Stronach? Dog? The question that gave rise to the alleged response or nonresponse had something to do with cleaning up the environment for the sake of the domestic animals or some such nonsense. When asked if he cared about his dog, MacKay allegedly pointed at Stronach's empty chair and replied that the Liberals already had her. That is funny. Sure it shows the MacKay trademark lack of judgement, but it is funny none the less.

Stronach left MacKay's bed on national TV, leaving the poor sap to have to explain his feelings to the nation. He is from Pictou, not Toronto. It had to be tough. Stronch then jumps into bed with a married hockey player and gets named in the no-fault divorce as the home wrecker. Now she is insulted and the Liberals, in typical Liberal fashion, are claiming that all women everywhere are insulted. That may have worked for Sheila Copps, but if you are making a voting decision based on this exchange, you should probably stay home from the polls. Stronach would have gained more support if she had of shrugged it off or had a laugh. No, she is offended. She is some sort of victim. She made reference to Conservative cuts to some status of women's group funding as evidence that the Tories are about to impose restrictions on women's rights. No wonder MacKay called her a dog, (or didn't, or made a funny at her expense, or at the expense of all women or whatever it all stands for) the Conservatives hate women. Or do they hate dogs? It's hard to keep it straight.

In any event, the good women of Canada who were insulted by the dog comment/noncomment  can start leaving their comments here.

The insulted dogs of Canada can also leave their comments here.

My response to you all will be Grow Up.